The Namesake

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Rey M Dec 10, 2018 The Namesake is an affecting drama spanning two generations of an Indian American family and exploring the generational and cultural conflicts that arise as a result of their assimilation into society. By carefully developing her characters and allowing us to believe the exist beyond what is shown on screen, director Mira Nair is able to cover 25 years without making the audience feel that the plot leaps forward awkwardly or that story gaps are left unfilled. It's difficult to overstate what the director and her screenwriter, Sooni Taraporevala, have achieved with this adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri's novel. They have taken events specific to one culture and produced a movie that is universal in its appeal and thematic content. The Namesake is a rich and moving motion picture.(Universal themes showcased beautifully). See more

Abraham W Apr 10, 2018 Brilliant adaptation of the novel.

Han W Apr 9, 2017 This movie is based on a man named Ashoke. He was born in New York but grow up in India. He travels back to India to meet Ashima for the very first time. She soon becomes his wife and goes back to America with him where they have two kids, one boy named Gogol, and one girl named Sonia. As his son gets older he cares less and less about his Indian culture, because he has lived in America his whole life. He starts dating a white girl and breaks the Indian culture of marrying an Indian woman. He takes her to meet his parents for the first time and it goes way better than he expected. He tells his family that he wants to change his name back to his good name and stop being called Gogol. His father becomes very upset with this, so he takes him to the place where he came up with his name to show him how much his name means to them. He tells him how he came up with the name. When he was on a train his grandfather gave him a book named Gogol, and it was the last thing his grandfather gave him before they got in a train wreck. He tells him how every day since then was a blessing and how he cherished every moment of it. As Gogol goes back home he never calls or contacts his parents. He just lives his life with his girlfriend, even though his mother tries to get in touch with him over and over again. Ashima soon find out that Ashoke had a massive heart attack and died as he was away for work. They finally get in touch with Gogol to tell him the terrible news about his father. He rushes to his family to be with them during this hard time. He then cuts his hair and begins living his life like his father wanted him to. His mom then tells him to go back to living his life. Gogol's girlfriend end up cheating on him so he leaves her to finds his purpose in life. This is a great movie for anyone who is questioning their family religious beliefs. This movie relates to religion the most, because a lot of times when kids become adults they start to move away from the strict religious beliefs that they have grown up with because they really don't understand them. Then when they become older and realize the things they were taught were very meaningful and had good reason. Tradition is an important thing, and when they realize that they see that they want their families to grow up the same way, with tradition and family. See more

Luke G Mar 8, 2017 On it's own, it could be ok. But, as an adaptation, it fails spectacularly.

Finn S Mar 5, 2017 Well acted, yes; Kal Penn shows his acting range here outside of comedy. The pacing was rather slow in parts though, particularly the first act. Being a film about something commendable and relatable (learning to appreciate what's handed down to us from our parents), the 2 hour runtime stretches the message pretty thin. Somewhere in the beginning of the third act The Namesake feels slightly lost and directionless, seemingly deviating from the "generational inheritance" story at times. Regardless, it was definitely interesting, at one point shocking and heartbreaking, and overall solid. See more

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The Namesake

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