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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%)
New (60) Used (57) Collectible (2) from $1.84
Avg. Customer Rating:  82 reviews
Sales Rank: 2405
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:
 Amazing March 6, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This story is amazing - The insight into a family can help sons, daughters, and all else to perhaps be more considerate of other family members and native citizens to admire and love people who come to live in their country that do not appear to be the same as them. Beautiful, beautiful people and every one of the actors deserves an award!
Enduring human themes in a fresh setting add up to a memorable film February 26, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Woven into this fine film are many enduring themes in literature, drama, and film -- coming of age; generations; courtship and marriage; falling in and out of love; infidelity; death and grieving; the love of parents for children, children for parents, and spouses for one another; and the hope of a life unencumbered by background. So what's new here?
In The Namesake, these universal themes, stresses, and conflicts play out in a family that has immigrated from Calcutta to New York, allowing the film to also explore immigration, culture shock, in- and out-marriage, and all the choices of identity that immigrants and their children can make. This fresh setting allows us to see and feel the emotions in a new way.
Americans whose forbears immigrated generations ago will be fascinated when they join, for a few hours, the immigrant experience. When they look at the themes in an Indian-American setting in this film, those whose families have come more recently can perhaps see the parallels and contrasts in their own lives.
With strong casting and fine (even lush) photography in New York and India, this is a film well worth watching.
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Better than the book, can that be? February 19, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The visual art of this movie, the brilliant cinematography, the focus on the main character, the actors portayals are all the wonderful things that make this better than the book. This is a rare achievement since so much detail can be put in writing. Love, love, love it!!!
 Captivating portrayal of Indian culture and Hinduism February 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a terrific film centered around an immigrant family from India merging into our society. The plot goes through their trials and tribulations throughout 25 years of their lives. While eye-opening in certain areas as to how harshly they are treated by others, it's also interesting the cultural differences between how the parents' lives were compared to their two children who were born and raised in New York. This movie is a must-see for anyone wishing to gain a better appreciation for Indian culture and Hinduism.
Basically it starts off with Ashoke returning to India for a wife. Their parents arrange for them to meet and they marry. He brings Ashima to live with him in New York. She is startled with the cultural differences but struggles through. They go on to have two children and move to the suburbs to raise them. Ashima's father dies suddenly and the family returns to India for a visit that gives their children exposure to their cultural roots and heritage. Upon their return, their son Gogol begins to have trouble accepting his name due to all of the peer pressure. He asks to change his name shortly after graduation to prevent any future issues. He begins a relationship and loses touch with his own family in the process. In the meantime, his dad's health begins to fail and while in Cleveland he dies suddenly of a heart attack. This dramatic event results in Gogol returning to his cultural roots. Ashima is left feeling lost and devastated without her husband. Gogol begins to date the daughter of a family friend and they eventually marry. Soon after, his wife feels too constricted in the marriage and begins an affair. Gogol finds out through her slip of the tongue. Sonia, Ashima's daughter, eventually finds her life partner as well. While at the house for Sonia's announcement, Gogol finds a book his father left for him of his namesake giving him true meaning in life and its journey. It is at this point he realizes that "there are no accidents." Ashima eventually returns to India to follow her singing for six months a year.
Another intriguing aspect of this film is the many references to Indian heritage and Hinduism. The story opens with the arrangement of marriage between Ashoke and Ashima and then their traditional Indian marriage ceremony which she is shown beautifully decorated. After the birth of Gogol, they were shocked to learn that he could not leave the hospital until a name had been given for his birth certificate. In India, the children are not formerly named until later. The family from India came to visit for the first solid food ceremony, which is another significant Hindu celebration. Many years later, the assimilation into American culture was noticed with their Christmas decorations. Once Ashoke passed away, Gogol shaves his head, the family has a small ceremony in their home and then returns to India to leave Ashoke's ashes in the sacred Ganges River. Gogol's marriage ceremony taken place in New York created another cultural clash since a fire was not allowed in the building. Each time while in India, there are gods and goddesses publicly displayed. Additionally, for each of these Hindu ceremonies, they use chanting, music, incense, etc. just as they would in India.
WOW....fantastic film February 6, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Wonderful character development. Even though the film spans 25 years, I still felt a keen sense of what these characters were about, despite the fact that they grew and changed so much during the film, much of it off the screen.
The film shows problems common to many immigrant families in which the children do not hold the culture in the same reverence as the parents do...but with a fresh look. There is no sense of the director making accusations or judgements. We see events through the perspective of different family members --- which gives the viewer a sense of what would be felt by anyone, in any cultural or ethnic group.
Understated and not at all melodramatic, THE NAMESAKE gives an honest portrayal of a family that is coping with assimilation while trying to maintain its cultural heritage.
Every actor did a marvelous job, sometimes conveying great emotions with just a glance, no words needed. This, to me, is a sign of great acting.
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