The Namesake

Based on the novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, this film is an drama both of the education of an American boy of Indian heritage and of the story of his family's traditional life. In a sense it is the love story of the parents of the boy, Gogol Ganguli, who is shown growing up. As he matures he discovers his heritage and the importance of his name given to him by his his father. Heartwarming and filled with the contrast between cultures and ages, this film left me with a sense that I knew these people. Both the directing, by Mira Nair, the performances of Irrfan Khan and Kal Penn as the father and son, respectively, and all of the other acting was effective in the family portrayal with touching moments abounding. I would recommend this film highly.