“The Namesake” is a gentle tale about cultural identity and the inevitable assimilation that happens in America. The movie has two distinct parts – in the first, we get to know Ashoke and Ashima, who move to America after an arranged marriage in Calcutta and we follow the gradual development of their relationship. In the second, we meet their children, Gogol, named after a Russian author, and his sister, typical American teens who reject much of their parents’ traditional ways. The conflict is further illustrated by Gogol’s name, which he accepts as a child and then later rejects in favor of his formal name, Nikhil (or Nick). But even as Gogol searches for identity, his ties to his parents remain strong and it is this bond that is the heart of the film.
I must say, however, that the movie I expected to see is not the one I saw. The previews point to a movie about a young man’s search for his roots in the origins of his name. The second half of the movie is only slightly about this aspect. If you decide to see “The Namesake,” expect to see a movie with more depth and ignore the previews. (4/14/07)
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