Sunday, March 27, 2005
With much respect to the Czarinas of Indian Diasporic Film
The Namesake a novel by Jumpha Lahiri is being made into a movie by Mira Nair; The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Divakaruni is being directed by Gurinder Chadha.
Two more movies are added to the genre of "identity", "displacement" and "spices".
I am not excited about these films at all, even though being made by two czarinas of "Diasporic Indian Films", because I’ve read the books. It might be tempting to appreciate films such as these, plainly because they adapt from diasporic literature, which for a long time been the only way for the diaspora to connect and reconstruct in its mind the "Imagined" homeland. The characters in these are not about being heroic or fighting injustice, but letting confusion take precedence over your life.
Creating diasporic films on the tradition of literature is to tell an exotic story in a singular way. These films from book adaptations aren’t going to help individuals understand their own identities and issues, the "Indian" identity tends to be shallow yet painful in these novels. Think Gogol and Tilo main characters of the novels. Are these films going to evince a meaningful interest in “Indian Culture” or what it means to be “Indian”. Or is it just a film showcasing unidentifiable characters seeking an identity in a place called “home”. What a slothful plot and a commonplace narrative?
Diasporic film can define a “culture”, that is the potent of the genre. It uses images and sounds much more than words. Therefore they must tread carefully - create images of successful compromise with the culture of the home country or a well drawn out fight with the dominant community to accept your minority/ethnic status. This could be one way of saying we have assimilated successfully into the home of our parents and left with respect our grand parents home that will always be a part of the story or memory. Cultural Production needs to be self-conscious because through the products we are talking largely about ourselves.
Diasporic movies need some straight talking to do, not some spice and self-introspection. It is time to go out there and make a claim! I know Our big girls Mira and Gurinder can do it.
Two more movies are added to the genre of "identity", "displacement" and "spices".
I am not excited about these films at all, even though being made by two czarinas of "Diasporic Indian Films", because I’ve read the books. It might be tempting to appreciate films such as these, plainly because they adapt from diasporic literature, which for a long time been the only way for the diaspora to connect and reconstruct in its mind the "Imagined" homeland. The characters in these are not about being heroic or fighting injustice, but letting confusion take precedence over your life.
Creating diasporic films on the tradition of literature is to tell an exotic story in a singular way. These films from book adaptations aren’t going to help individuals understand their own identities and issues, the "Indian" identity tends to be shallow yet painful in these novels. Think Gogol and Tilo main characters of the novels. Are these films going to evince a meaningful interest in “Indian Culture” or what it means to be “Indian”. Or is it just a film showcasing unidentifiable characters seeking an identity in a place called “home”. What a slothful plot and a commonplace narrative?
Diasporic film can define a “culture”, that is the potent of the genre. It uses images and sounds much more than words. Therefore they must tread carefully - create images of successful compromise with the culture of the home country or a well drawn out fight with the dominant community to accept your minority/ethnic status. This could be one way of saying we have assimilated successfully into the home of our parents and left with respect our grand parents home that will always be a part of the story or memory. Cultural Production needs to be self-conscious because through the products we are talking largely about ourselves.
Diasporic movies need some straight talking to do, not some spice and self-introspection. It is time to go out there and make a claim! I know Our big girls Mira and Gurinder can do it.
Comments
I agree with your ambivalence about "Namesake" and "Mistress of Spices" - the books were less than mediocre at best and people like me find it galling that Americans lap up these faux exotic characterizations of being Indian as the real thing.
Keep writing!
I am of the asian diaspora, and I loved the namesake. I might not agree on every aspect, but I can relate, and found the simplicity and mondaness of day to day life refreshing. I am an artist and my work centres around political diaspora. Check out my blog at http://simmilunar.blogspot.com
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