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A tale of two cultures

Suparn Verma

Seth with Norah Bates in The Journey. Click for bigger pic!

The story of The Journey is an old one. Kishan Singh (Roshan Seth), a retired teacher from India visits his son in the US. Kishan's presence, his aphoristic wisdom, and his decision to stay on indefinitely, causes friction in his son's family. The film is about the differences of cultures and an understanding of them from individual points of view.

The Journey does contrast the two cultures using humour as a medium, but one is left with the lingering suspicion that this is essentially intended to cater to an western audience.

Kishan starts off bewildered by gadgets and a lifestyle he cannot comprehend. Slowly Kishan starts to pick up the threads of his new life, coping with the death of his wife, though her presence is constantly with him.

His daughter-in-law, Laura Singh (Carrie Preston), is a budding poet whose orderly life is disrupted by Kishan. It takes her friend Audrey (Betsy Zajko) to change her notions about Kishan.

Kishan's tender relationship his granddaughter Jenny (Nora Bates) is dealt with well. The film also examines the psyche of the young NRI who is disillusioned with life in the US and wants to return to India.

Betsy Zajko in The Journey. Click for bigger pic!

One of them is Raj Singh (Zaki Anthony), a workaholic doctor, who is fed up of the politics of his job and wants to become an ascetic in Benares. Kishan's acts as a catalyst in his deteriorating relationship with his wife. But the character of Raj Singh is sketchily drawn. He seems to have much to say but spends little time on screen, leaving one with the impressing of a grouchy, sulky lad without depth.

Kishan's foil is his friend Ashok (Saeed Jaffery) a cynical radio host. Ashok helps Kishan adjust to his new environment, supplying him with some relishing dollops of wisdom. "Americans hate smoking because they want to die healthy," being one.

Despite its weakness, the film has some good moments, the best of them being when Kishan recounts his experience at the Falling Water museum when a group of Japanese, after seeing a painting by Monet, started to hum a tune composed by one of their countrymen.

The Journey is an impressive debut film, offering views from both sides of the fence.

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