What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this mature drama about two generations of a Bengali family living in New York is a great movie to watch with your teens. Like most immigrant narratives, the story includes deaths, births, marriages, break-ups, and other important milestones that mark a family's history. A son's disinterest in his Indian culture -- and his unusual name, Gogol -- is the central theme of the film. Like most immigrant children, he and his sister sometimes ridicule and resent their parents' traditions. The mature subject matter includes arranged marriage, adultery, discrimination, cultural differences, parental deaths, and -- most important -- self-identity. A brief scene shows the victims of a train crash, and there are a few passionate love scenes.
- Families can talk about the movie's themes of immigration and identity. If your family is from another country, discuss what makes your cultural heritage distinct.
- Kids: Do you feel like Gogol and Sonia when it comes to your customs?And if you aren't from another country, what parts of the relationshipbetween parents and kids are universal?
- Families can also discuss how the media treat other cultures -- andimmigrants -- in general. Do some groups get treated differently thanothers? Why?