The Namesake (film)

Namesake - Two worlds, one trip is an American- Indian film director Mira Nair drama from 2006, it focuses on the question of cultural identity of children of Indian immigrants in the United States (the " Second Generation Immigrants ").. The film is based on the novel The Namesake ( German namesake ) of the Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri.

Action

The film begins with a train accident in the early seventies, the survival of the young Bengali Ashoke scarce. He is saved because he can make the rescue workers noticeable by rustling the pages of a book - with the coat of Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol.

The main story begins a few years later and stretches over some thirty years. Ashoke, who is studying in America now, comes to Kolkata to, arranged by the parents to marry the young Ashima. He takes her to New York and plunges them into a so uprooted and lonely life as a housewife. Only gradually the two become a couple. They had two children: Gogol, which owes its name Ashokes traumatic experience and Sonia. Although the two children grow up as Americans, but remain as children of Indian immigrants getting caught between two cultures.

As Gogol experiences as a teenager more about his " paranoid, suicidal, depressive " namesake, he takes off his name and called himself " Nikhil " - the name may be shortened in America without any problems on "Nick". A stay of several months the family in Kolkata shows that parents Ashoke and Ashima are at home there again in their home while the children Gogol / Nikhil and Sonia feel like tourists and experience the city as strangers.

After studying architecture Gogol lives with the typical upper-class American Maxine. Towards his parents, he concealed the relationship as long as possible, since he sees it as a betrayal of the Bengali moral concepts. But when Ashoke dies unexpectedly, Gogol falls in almost exaggerated manner in the traditional funeral rites and is committed to its Indian roots. At that impersonation breaks his relationship with Maxine.

A short time later meets Gogol, at the suggestion of his mother, with Moushumi, which is a child of Bengali parents as Gogol and lives in New York. They begin a passionate relationship and get married soon; However, the marriage goes after only one year in the fractures. Gogol experienced the separation as a liberation from the constraints imposed him his constant search for identity. The now about fifty Ashima returns to Kolkata.

Background

The film was made in close collaboration with the author of the highly autobiographical novel, Jhumpa Lahiri, and their parents. All three can be seen in small supporting roles.

German synchronization

The synchronization was created by the All Arts Media GmbH. Dialogue book and ruling led Joachim Kunz village.

Reception

Namesake - Two worlds, one trip were discussed mainly positive in the German newspapers. In Germany radio culture was heard: " With a keen sense of humor and ethnic Indian performers, who were also already be seen in major Hollywood films, shows Mira Nair family drama a successful integration. "

Critic.de emphasizes the simplicity of the narrative and sees in The Namesake, a "film to impress its melancholy and unexciting narrative deep. "

The lexicon of the International film sees the film critical ". A more sober analysis of immigration and assimilation, although showing contradictions, but argued a little academic "

Awards

  • 2007 Gotham Award in the category "Best Film" ( nomination )
  • 2007 listing of the Top Ten Independent Films from the National Board of Review
  • 2007 EDA Award in the category " Best Seduction" for Irrfan Khan and Tabu
  • 2007 EDA Award in the category " Best Woman Director" for Mira Nair ( nomination )
  • 2007 EDA Award in the category "Cultural Crossover Award" ( nomination )
  • 2007 AZN Asian Excellence Award in the category "Outstanding Actor, Film " for Kal Penn
  • 2008 Independent Spirit Award in the category " Best Supporting Actor " for Irrfan Khan (nominated )
2006 in film Screenplay Film score Nitin Sawhney Frederick Elmes Tabu (actress) The Overcoat Gotham Awards Audio commentary Mississippi Masala Monsoon Wedding Hysterical Blindness (film) Amelia (film) New York, I Love You The Reluctant Fundamentalist (film)
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