The FiFi Report 166

The Namesake….Directed by Mira Nair ( VANITY FAIR, MONSOON WEDDING)
Based on: The bestselling book The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri,
Genre: Drama.
Who: Kal Penn, Jacinda Barrett, Irfan Khan, Zuleikha Robinson.
The Plot: India 1970’s. Indian couple get married off. Head to the USA. He works, she is alone and lonely. Have children. Boy is called Gogol. Fast Forward to 2006. Gogol ditches parents, and rejects Indian traditions. Heads to New York. Hangs out at The Mercer. Meets WASP girlfriend. Bad things happen, Ditches WASP girlfriend. Follow the family for 25 years and weddings, the funerals and the family feasts…The end.
Acting: Fabulous.
Photography: The sumptuous cinematography by Frederick Elmes is amazing… “This gorgeously designed and photographed movie artfully depicts the immigrant experience in ways that transcend its setting.” New York Post.
Design:From colorful and crowded India to New York this film is absolutely gorgeous to look at.
Wardrobe: All the beautiful Indian jewels, shoes and gorgeous colourful saris inspire you want to never wear black ever again. The only mistake is in the styling of the WASP girlfriend. She doesn’t look sophisticated or stylish. She should be.
Salon de Beaute: All gorgeous except for WASP girlfriend. What’s with the awful wig and the bad makeup? Please explain.
Botox: You need it to get through the sad, sad, poignant scenes.Waterproof Mascara: Lashings of Chanel mascara is a must” If you’re not a basketcase of sobby, sloppy tears of sadness and joy by the end of The Namesake, then I don’t know what’s wrong with you.” Flick FilosopherBlood ’n’ Guts: In India you see everything. Close your eyes in the accident scene.
Mind drifted to shopping: Every scene: the clothes are all gorgeous. ..Smokin’ smooches: A little romance
Car chases: Zilch.
Rename It: Four weddings and a Funeral Best Reviews:
Best Review: “ A saga of the immigrant experience that captures the snap, crackle and pop of American life, along with the pounding pulse, emotional reticence, volcanic colors and cherished rituals of Indian culture.” Wall Street Journal
Best Worst Reviews: “It’s full of good intentions — too full. Love can sometimes blind you, as it does Nair, who tries to pack in too much of the book.” Internet Reviews
See it or donate to the Prada Bag fund? As beautiful as any Prada bag, it’s a must see.
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thenamesake/