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| The Namesake | 
 enlarge | Director: Mira Nair
Actors: Irfan Khan, Kal Penn, Jagannath Guha, Ruma Guha Thakurta, Tabu
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $1.84
You Save: $18.14 (91%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  82 reviews
Sales Rank: 2502
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Hindi (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 122
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: FOXD2245608D
UPC: 024543456087
EAN: 0024543456087
ASIN: B000U2U0E4
Theatrical Release Date: March 9, 2007
Release Date: November 27, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: 100% Guaranteed!! Former rental, Has rental case with stickers. Click on my User ID to check out my other items!! Money Back Guarantee if not satisfied!! All my items are IN STOCK, your order will never be backordered or cancelled!
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| Customer Reviews:
 What's in a name? Everything. August 30, 2007
Having been to India myself, the opening minutes of "The Namesake" immediately struck an emotional cord within me. The familiar sights of an over packed train journeying across the sprawling Indian countryside evoked a time of searching. India is a land of great mystery and soul, even for those who call it home.
On this particular train journey, an older man sitting across from a student questions him about the book he reads. The elder man encourages this young student to see the world, not just read about it through books. Then, almost instantaneously, tragedy strikes...then darkness...and silence. As the lovely opening titles ebb and flow before us, with soothing music, a powerful sense of a great journey about to unfold washes over you. It is a rewarding journey, and a very human one.
Adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name, "The Namesake" effortlessly ushers us through the life cycle of a Bengali family. The relationship between the spouses, Ashima and Ashoke, is at first a landscape as unfamiliar to them as is New York, where Ashima joins her newly married husband after their arranged marriage in India. The Pulitzer Prize winning author of "The Namesake" Jhumpa Lahiri, has fashioned a beautiful example of two people very much in love with one another who never fail to respect their individuality in their union. This is poignantly displayed in a scene where, Ashima, in an effort to please her husband, has accidentally shrunk his sweaters in the dryer. She isolates herself in the bathroom, in tears at her husbands frustration. Ashoke is quick to recognize his shortcoming acknowledging to her through the closed bathroom door that her intention was good, and that it was his fault for not telling her she did not need to do the laundry. He also offers to make her some tea. She is surprised at how untraditional he is in his expectations of her.
Two children follow and the focus soon settles on the eldest, Gogol, a name given him after his father's favorite author and one we learn has extra special meaning as the film plays out. Gogol is a typical youth, struggling to find his own identity outside of the one fashioned for him by his parents and the traditions they raised him with. We follow him from boyhood to manhood and experience the pain that comes with moving forward and the doubt that comes from what we've ignored in the process. Yet even though our gaze follows Gogol, we are given a balanced experience of everyone's journey. Ashima is a striking example of a woman in touch with the cycles of life and surrendering to the meaningful nature of its many seasons. Ashoke is a silent pillar of strength and wisdom, loving his son despite of the distance Gogol prefers. But for as much distance as Gogol creates through his interest in his American girlfriend's family, he is pulled back to his roots and eventually succumbs, unaware, to the preferences of his family tradition, only to lose it. But as is true in life, we must lose it, to find it.
"The Namesake" is a full circle tale about finding ones home in the world, after many journeys away from our own back yard. It's about ultimately coming to accept and being thankful for the longings of our heart, and the many journeys it can take us on in life. - Thomas O'Connor
 Coming of Age August 14, 2007
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
Based on the novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, "The Namesake" on the surface is a story of culture clash, but on a deeper level it's just a story about growing up. Gogol Ganguli is an Indian boy who is racing as fast as he can to escape his parents and his Bengali heritage. After getting through his obnoxious teenager stage, he goes to Yale and takes up with an almost impossibly WASP girl and her family. It's only upon his father's death that he realizes how much he loved him, but then he runs in the other direction and marries a Bengali girl who nevertheless shares none of his values. In the end he's off to "find himself," traveling through India and really seeing it for the first time.
Much more interesting here is the story of Gogol's parents, especially his mother, and the story of their arranged marriage. And the tale of Ashok, Gogol's father, and how he came to give Gogol his odd name, is quite moving.
Although an interesting film, with beautiful insights into Hindu culture, I had the same problem with the movie as I did with the book--we never fully understand the Gogol character, with his abrupt shifts back and forth. Lahiri came to our attention with her Pulitzer-prize winning collection of short stories, which were truly wonderful, but I don't think she's mastered the novel form, and the trick of watching a character evolve. By filling in more details of Gogol's childhood, the film struggles to overcome this with only partial success.
Nevertheless, this is a beautiful film to watch, especially if you've ever been to India, and the story of immigrants adapting to a new culture is compelling. The film makes us really feel how inhospitable, cold and lonely the "outer boroughs" of NYC must have felt to a young girl whose first plane trip took her to the United States. Hot and cold running water and gas 24 hours a day, as her husband proudly explains, hardly began to make up for the life she left behind. But Ashima grows into a lovely and mature woman, who is free at the end to choose her life for the first time. Hers is the interesting story.
"For Our Parents - Who Gave Us Everything" August 14, 2007
30 out of 31 found this review helpful
This movie deals with Bengali culture in India and families both in their native lands and abroad - and I have to say is one of the most satisfying and beautiful watches I had the pleasure of sitting down to. To an Irishman of 49 and typical multiplex type, I'd admit that most of the cast is unrecognizable to me, but that makes no odds, because all are uniformly superb. And I love the insights the film gives into a culture as fascinating as theirs.
It begins in 1977 when a young Bengali man (who has been to study in the USA since 1974) is back in his native Calcutta to meet his new bride - one that is picked out for him whether he likes her or not. He is Ashoke, an engineer with prospects - played subtly and gently by a fantastic Irrfan Khan. Ashoke gets real lucky - his bride is the quietly beautiful Ashima (it means limitless, played by the gorgeous Bollywood star Tabu). Waiting with her parents, Ashoke looks uncomfortable but resigned - its been done this way for centuries. Before Ashima goes into the room to see him for the first time - she tries on his American shoes he's left outside the room - they fit and she likes them - a good sign. Ashima takes them off and meekly enters - ultra respect to her elders. Ashoke is not traditionally handsome, but his big soppy bug-eyes and equally studious glasses tell you that this is a good man - and an intelligent one. They marry in full traditional dress and custom. Ashima waves her family goodbye at the airport and then on to New York.
Life in America is foreign to her, but she adapts. Besides, something else is happening that makes it all bearable; Ashima is slowly but surely falling in love with her 'chosen' husband. It's in these scenes that the film shows it true charm - it's so beautifully and realistically handled (many scenes returned to later in flashback to flesh out dialogue that is important and pivitol to the story). Their relationship is an evolving love, away from need and initial awkwardness into a mutual respect for each other. The believability of the two lead actors here is crucial - and you can feel their drawing together - year after year after year.
The story continues to both of their kids being born (a boy and a girl), then young, then grown up and full of New Yawk attitude and difficulty with the 'old ways' - even with their names. 1st born - and most rebellious - the boy's name is Gogol (played by Kal Penn), which he hates with a passion until he finds out why his father called him that (a train journey and a passenger who changed his life). Gogol and his sister's dual identities cause them both conflict and even heartache. They endure racism, work, snobbery, meet potential partners, they marry - and on it goes - to sad and joyful surprises as their life journey progresses. It's set across 25 years and there's a lot crammed in. (Gogul's sister Sonia is played by Sahira Nair)
The Namesake is as much about Indian culture (then and now) as it is about the power and pull of family - that one thing that unites us all with love and misery in equal measure! I can't recommend this movie enough - in my Top 20 with a bullet. A gentle and beautiful surprise I heartily recommend.
P.S.: Like Gustavo Santaolalla's music in "The Motorcycle Diaries" and "Babel", Nitin Sawhney's music is one of the reasons the movie has such slow and majestic power - an absolutely gorgeous soundtrack - and one I'm going to buy pronto!
P.P.S.: The title of this review is from the dedication in the credits by the director Mira Nair.
Beautiful August 7, 2007
I was fortunate enough to see this film at theater and was it ever worth it! Director Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding) does a terrific job of adding color and warmth that really begins to draw in the viewing audience. Based off of the novel (The Namesake) by Jjumpa Lahiri, the film follows a multi-generational story as a couple from India movie to America to begin their life and finally the audience watches their first generation American born children traverse their lives. When the film followed the parent's romance and relationship it was always touching and beautiful bur the only reason I hesitate to give this film five stars is due to the later half of the movie. Following the children's lives quickly became generic (whether this is attributed to the book and/or the movie I don't know). I appreciated the dislike that was cultivated towards the son but it began to become so predictable - I definitely left the theater with a bit of a bittersweet feeling.
Awesome Movie July 12, 2007
I was thoroughly pleased with this movie. The director does a great job with the arrangment and story telling. I definitely recommend the purchasing of this movie. It was an awesome, educational experience.
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