The Namesake

Based on a novel of the same name, The Namesake unfolds very much like a novel; the film is quiet, simple, rich, and rewarding. There are moments of great emotional weight, though most of the film remains soft-spoken, inviting you to embark on a peaceful journey through the very soul of America, through the heart of India, and back. The plot of The Namesake proves less important than the story’s emotions. If asked what the film is about, I would probably give several single-word responses: family, legacy, love, grief, etc. Even attempting to write about it proves difficult; The Namesake must be felt.

That being said, a brief summary is still in order. Ashoke (Irfan Kahn) and Ashima (Tabu) are a young Bengali couple who move from Calcutta, India, to New York City. Ashoke has been living in America for some time already, but Ashima has never known anything outside of India. The early scenes of their life in America wonderfully communicate Ashima’s culture-shock and loneliness. She and Ashoke eventually have two children, a daughter named Sonia, and a son, named for Ashoke’s favorite author, Nikolai Gogol. The Namesake chronicles two decades of the Ganguli family as all four of them gradually become American while also staying true to their Indian heritage.

The characters in The Namesake are as believable as any characters I’ve seen. The credit for this can be placed on at least four different parties: Jhumpa Lahiri, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, Sooni Taraporevala, the woman who adapted the screenplay, Mira Nair, the director, and of course, the actors. The characters in The Namesake do not follow film clichés, they are not predictable, and they are not morally simple. These are real people who behave as such, and none of them can be placed into two-dimensional molds of good or evil, hero or villain. This story certainly has its heroes, but they are the vulnerable heroes of real life: ordinary people who exhibit extraordinary compassion and understanding.

One of the film’s key triumphs is its marvelous use of time. Time passes so very realistically, which doesn’t occur too often in the movies. The Namesake has scenes that unfold very slowly, in real-time, followed by cuts where ten years have passed. The film moves at a contemplative pace, while also soaring past entire years of the plot like a smooth stone skipping on the surface of a pond. In keeping with real life, the years seem to fly by, and eventually the characters are left holding only their memories, most precious of which are fragments of conversations. This use of time makes it almost impossible to sense where the story is headed - another rarity in most movies. The film has a two hour running time, though it feels closer to three, and in this case that’s a good thing. Roger Ebert has often said, “No good movie is too long, no bad movie is short enough.” The Namesake doesn’t waste a moment.

Several scenes make much more sense long after they have passed. After seeing the film, thinking back on specific conversations with the entire context of the story in place, moments took on new meaning for me. A screenplay serves as the soul of any adaptation, and it carries the sometimes unthinkable weight of bridging the source material and the finished film. Novels built more around human emotion than plot do not always translate successfully to the screen, but Sooni Taraporevala’s screenplay for The Namesake makes all the right decisions. It knows when to employ large, bold brushstrokes, yet also knows when to move in close and highlight the smallest details. The script spills over with humanity and life, and in the hands of sensitive director Mira Nair, the film flourishes quietly, but confidently.

Mira Nair was offered the director’s chair for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, but she declined, opting to direct The Namesake instead. She would have made a marvelous Harry Potter film, and also would have become a household name overnight because of it. Personally, I’m glad she chose to tell this story. Her film probably won’t find wide circulation, though I suspect it will linger for quite some time in the hearts of all who do see it.

Exciting News!

It's WAY past time to share two pieces of very exciting news. Most of you probably know them already, but putting up a post makes it officially official. First of all, Lauren is graduating in three weeks! She was planning on graduating in December, but her advisor pulled some strings, and now she's graduating on May 12. We're so excited! After the ceremony, she will still have one more short class in May and then spend the rest of the summer writing her senior thesis on what she does at My Gym: Children's Fitness Center. She will then receive her diploma in August.

And now, for the even bigger news: Dee and Lauren's wedding is back on the calender! Be there or be square (preferably both): Saturday, August 11th, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ in Nashville, TN. Needless to say, we're both extremely excited to have a date and to be planning for the big event. We can't wait to celebrate with our family and friends, and we hope to see you all there.

We're getting married!!!

"I'm Dreaming of a White Passover"

Hello there! Temperatures have been in the 40's up here, Spring has been making its presence known, and all has been quite lovely. But then, just when you thought it was safe to go back outside ... (insert Jaws theme music) ... It snowed 12 inches! Yes, a full foot fell about a week ago, so it seems that Winter isn't over afterall. Check out the picture of Lauren standing in front of the enormous snow mound that used to be her car.

Once we got back indoors and warmed up, we participated in our very own Passover Seder. What a tremendous blessing it was! We plan on making it an annual tradition, though hopefully we can celebrate with more people in the future. The meal has such phenomonal symbolism and depth, and it's a powerful reminder of how faithful God has been over the centuries. Ours was a slightly revised (Christianised) version of the ceremony, which can be found here:

http://www.cresourcei.org/haggadah.html

For Christians, the ceremony takes on new levels of meaning. Jesus used the Passover to instigate the Lord's Supper, and experiencing the ceremony makes the story of the Last Supper even more poignant and intriguing. Passover has specific readings for all family members, including many roles for young children. We strongly encourage you to find some family and friends to celebrate with next April - you'll never forget it.