FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: The Namesake [DVD] [2006]

The Namesake [DVD] [2006]
enlarge	Director: Mira Nair Actors: Kal Penn, Jacinda Barrett, Irfan Khan, Zuleikha Robinson, Tabu Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Category: DVD List Price: ~~£19.99~~ Buy New: £3.21 as of 25/11/2009 18:42 GMT details You Save: £16.78 (84%) New (15) Used (2) from £3.21 Seller: twentyfiveorless Rating: 10 reviews Sales Rank: 16286 Format: Anamorphic, PAL Languages: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language), Hindi (Original Language) Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over Region: 2 Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 117 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.6 EAN: 5039036034562 ASIN: B000RF9YS2 Theatrical Release Date: 2006 Release Date: July 30, 2007 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 10 1 2 Next » "For our parents - who gave us everything." August 1, 2007 Mark Barry at Revival Records, West End (London, UK) 30 out of 31 found this review helpful This movie deals with Bengali culture in India and families both in their native lands and abroad - and I have to say is one of the most satisfying and beautiful watches I had the pleasure of sitting down to. To an Irishman of 49 and typical multiplex type, I'd admit that most of the cast is unrecognizable to me, but that makes no odds, because all are uniformly superb. And I love the insights the film gives into a culture as fascinating as theirs. br / br /It begins in 1977 when a young Bengali man (who has been to study in the USA since 1974) is back in his native Calcutta to meet his new bride - one that is picked out for him whether he likes her or not. He is Ashoke, an engineer with prospects - played subtly and gently by a fantastic Irrfan Khan. Ashoke gets real lucky - his bride is the quietly beautiful Ashima (it means limitless, played by the gorgeous Bollywood star Tabu). Waiting with her parents, Ashoke looks uncomfortable but resigned - its been done this way for centuries. Before Ashima goes into the room to see him for the first time - she tries on his American shoes he's left outside the room - they fit and she likes them - a good sign. Ashima takes them off and meekly enters - ultra respect to her elders. Ashoke is not traditionally handsome, but his big soppy bug-eyes and equally studious glasses tell you that this is a good man - and an intelligent one. They marry in full traditional dress and custom. Ashima waves her family goodbye at the airport and then on to New York. br / br /Life in America is foreign to her, but she adapts. Besides, something else is happening that makes it all bearable; Ashima is slowly but surely falling in love with her 'chosen' husband. It's in these scenes that the film shows it true charm - it's so beautifully and realistically handled (many scenes returned to later in flashback to flesh out dialogue that is important and pivitol to the story). Their relationship is an evolving love, away from need and initial awkwardness into a mutual respect for each other. The believability of the two lead actors here is crucial - and you can feel their drawing together - year after year after year. br / br /The story continues to both of their kids being born (a boy and a girl), then young, then grown up and full of New Yawk attitude and difficulty with the 'old ways' - even with their names. 1st born - and most rebellious - the boy's name is Gogol (played by Kal Penn), which he hates with a passion until he finds out why his father called him that (a train journey and a passenger who changed his life). Gogol and his sister's dual identities cause them both conflict and even heartache. They endure racism, work, snobbery, meet potential partners, they marry - and on it goes - to sad and joyful surprises as their life journey progresses. It's set across 25 years and there's a lot crammed in. (Gogul's sister Sonia is played by Sahira Nair) br / br /The Namesake is as much about Indian culture (then and now) as it is about the power and pull of family - that one thing that unites us all with love and misery in equal measure! I can't recommend this movie enough - in my Top 20 with a bullet. A gentle and beautiful surprise I heartily recommend. br / br /P.S.: Like Gustavo Santaolalla's music in "The Motorcycle Diaries" and "Babel", Nitin Sawhney's music is one of the reasons the movie has such slow and majestic power - an absolutely gorgeous soundtrack - and one I'm going to buy pronto! br / br /P.P.S.: The title of this review is from the dedication in the credits. A drama of the highest quality September 27, 2007 P. DATTA (Stockton on Tees, Teesside) 11 out of 11 found this review helpful The Namesake is an excellent written drama supported by high callibre acting, powerful storyline and outstanding cinemagraphy. The ingredients of a quality cinema making are clearly demonstrated. Namesake righteously deserve its string of positive reviews. It is a movie which I can strongly relate to, as I am second generation Indian Bengal similar to the characters featured in the story. br / br /The principal theme of the movie is about divided loyalty split between Indian Bengal roots and the American roots. The movie opening seqences include the Ganguli first sample of modern American life in New York city, as a newly wed from Calcutta. The story develops to a full fledged family in surbanan area of New York, in which the siblings loyalty is severly tested throughout the movie. This includes a trip to India to visit their inheritance and explore the rich cultural roots. The story closely ressmbles a similar lifecyle of my parents life in the UK and closely ties with mine. br / br /The quality of acting is superb, which adds a strong touch of credibility and solidarity to the characters featured in the story of a typical Asian family living in America. br / br /The cinemagraphy is outstanding, with the movie constantly shifting between New York and Calcutta. You gain a real flavour of cultural roots from both sides of the globe. That comment of outstanding cinemagraphy is truly justified. br / br /Overall, a drama of the highest quality which offers a realistic account from a second generation (siblings) and first generation (parents) perspective of the transaction to a new life. The movie contains elements of high drama and emotional for viewers to absorb in. I suggest you have a handkerchief handy as some viewers may shred some tears during partiuclar delicate moments of the movie. A brilliant drama which tackled the issue of how Western and Eastern values conflicts in the most simplified manner as possible. The Namesake is a movie which I can strongly relate being a second generation Bengali and for that reason it appeals to me. The Namesake June 24, 2007 O. Candide-Johnson (Paris, France) 19 out of 20 found this review helpful The Namesake was for me a thoroughly enjoyable, excellently written and directed dramatic movie. A pot pourri of interesting characters, colourful scenery with a very realistic and insightful story. From Calcutta to New York, the movie is fully entertaining and the script brought to life by truly amazing actors. br / br /Highly recommended. Thoroughly good stuff December 8, 2007 Antyllus (London, UK) 4 out of 4 found this review helpful The Namesake is directed by Mira Nair, based on the novel The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, who incidently also appeared in the movie. br / br /The film protrays the story of American-born Gogol (named after the Russian author) who is the son of Indian immigrants Gogol struggles wanting to fit in among his fellow New Yorkers, often seemingly hampered by his family's unwillingness to let go of their traditional ways. Through the events unfolding Gogol, and so also the viewer gains a better understanding of the individual thrust into Indian-American culture. br / br /There are some funny and tender scenes in this film, beautifully enacted by all. The naming of Gogol, and the later questioning of the reasoning behind this choice, are some of those scenes that stand out... Plenty of little surprises makes this an enjoyable film. br / br / br / Multiculturalism on the move October 11, 2009 C. Siedenbiedel The movie "The Namesake" has moved me deeply. The story of this Bengali family that step-by-step enters the "New World" is told with impressive images. The inner conflict between their Indian identity and their daily life in the USA is expressed with scenes showing the family following Bengali rituals in the USA and their children in conflicts with their American classmates on the one hand and conflicts with the Bengali family in India on the other hand. A scene in which they all appear as tourists in the Tajmahal shows that they feel rather like visitors than natives in India as well. br /Calcutta and New York are shown as contrasting places and the family becomes more and more like a bridge between those distant places. The perspectives change throughout the movie. A focus is certainly on Gogol and his father, but the mother's perspective, her memories of India, her feelings when her marriage was arranged and her first impressions of her new life The NamesakeThe Overcoat (Dover Thrift)are also focussed on. br /The name of the movie "The Namesake" refers to the intermedial reference that alludes the family's son "Gogol" to the Russian author of the novella "The Overcoat" which was read by his father in a crucial situation in his life. Showing reviews 1-5 of 10 1 2 Next »

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