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Rating of
3.5/4
Not a perfect film, but still great
Mr. Storm - wrote on 01/14/2008
Life is hard for those coming to America from another country. I think those false balloons of hope of America's riches have basically been popped many a year ago, as the world's mental borders close in on each other and the hidden secrets are more visible. The Ganguli family, as portrayed in this fine film, has no aspirations coming to America. The head of the household, Ashoke (as played by Irfan Khan), was involved in a train accident many years ago in India which changes the outlook of his life, marries a young woman named Ashima (Tabu), and raises his family in a small apartment in New York. The "American Dream" is never mentioned, because they are too busy living the "American Life".
The major component of this story is one of evolution. Every character in this film grows with …
Rating of
3/4
It Deftly Captures Migration and Assimilation
Franz Patrick - wrote on 01/13/2008
I enjoyed this movie a lot because I know how it's like to move to a completely different country, not knowing about the culture, and to have that drive to make something better for yourself and those you love. I did feel that the first hour and a half or so of the movie was stronger than the rest because I can't take Kal Penn seriously. But still, if I did take Kal Penn seriously, the history of his parents' immigration would still be more interesting because that topic is rarely explored in Hollywood films. I did enjoy the characters' struggle to belong but at the same time strive to be an individual. That theme was constant in each character, subtle or otherwise. Although the film is more than two hours long, I didn't get tired of it because I wanted to know more about the characters' …
