Review of The Namesake (2006) by Isaac B — 20 Sep 2008
The Namesake is a film directed by Mira Nair. This film is based on the novel written by Jhumpa Lahiri. This film begins in India when the fate of a young Indian man will change forever. This young man boards a train in India and meets a passenger who tells him ?Pack and pillow and blanket, See the world?.
The train gets into a wreck and the young man is the lone survivor of that wreck. Later on this young man gets and arranged marriage then moves to New York. The couple has a son and names him Gogol after the Russian author Nikol Gogol.
Gogol grows up disliking his name. Gogol changes his name after he graduates from high school. Gogol changes his name to Nick and turns away from his culture and past. He dates an American woman and spends time with her family.
Gogol father passes away and turns back to his roots embracing his culture and customs. Gogol marries a Bengali woman whom he met after his high school graduation. Gogol later learns that his wife had an affair with another man.
Gogol?s mother returns to India. This film relates to religion where one separates him/herself from their roots. Many children of immigrants find themselves torn between American and their native cultures.
Some find their way back to their cultural roots while some remain lost trying to find their way. What makes this film so special is the message of losing your cultural identity and then you are able to find your way back.
The title of this film fits in every way. The Namesake is great film. I strongly recommend this film for any son/daughter of an immigrant. Being a son of a Haitian immigrant I can truly relate to this story.
This review of The Namesake (2006) was written by Isaac B on 20 Sep 2008.
The Namesake has generally received very positive reviews.
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