India at TIFF

Whoops - only posting my TIFF reviews now for two great films by Indian directors:

Kabul Express - from Director Kabir Khan deals with two Indian journalists who get dropped in Afghanistan (literally) and try to score an interview with the Taliban. Shooting this movie was apparently dangerous but like No Man's Land from 2001, this film speaks more to the similarities between the cultures and the futility of war.

The Indian community was out in full force swooning over the dishy (and funny) male stars John Abraham and Arshad Warsi. The actress who played the "American journalist" was so NOT from this continent that her scenes got in the way for me but still, this was one of my most enjoyable films at TIFF this year. MMMM

The Namesake - the latest film from director Mira Nair was very touching and highly personal. It is her adaptation of the novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri. Having just seen Bride and Prejudice on TV yesterday followed by Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly, I remembered that the last Indian wedding I had seen on film was during The Namesake. Essentially this is an immigrant story: an Indian couple go to live in the US, the husband a lecturer at the university, the wife adjusting to their apartment and the snow until they find a place in the suburbs. They have 2 children, a boy and a girl and name the boy Gogol, after the father's favourite author. Gogol is played by Kal Penn, of Harold and Kumar go to White Castle fame. His acting is a bit wooden but that doesn't detract too much from the full arc of the tale. I like the journey back to India the family takes together and how they celebrate in their home, right up until it is sold. It is interesting to see another culture deal with prejudice, choices and guilt. See it and call your parents. MMMm

Different directors
Two brave settings and stories
Message is the same