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Abcd

2001, Movie, NR, 105 mins

Abcd: Review

ABCD
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Like AMERICAN DESI, this family drama deals with the conflicts that plague Americans of Indian ancestry as they try to reconcile conflicting cultural traditions. Since the death of her husband, Anju (actress and food writer Madhur Jaffrey) has lived only for her children, Nina (Sheetal Sheth) and Raj (Faran Tahir), worrying about them constantly. Hard-working, obedient Raj is engaged to the traditionally raised Tejal (Adriane Forlana Erdos), whom his mother selected for him. Though his marital plans are in order, Anju worries that Raj's career as an accountant isn't progressing quickly enough, and nags him — she would say encourages — to push for a promotion at work. But it's angry and rebellious Nina whose future weighs most heavily on Anju's mind. Not only will Nina not consider an arranged marriage, not only will she not date Indian men at all, but she's defiantly opposed to any kind of sustained commitment to a man, favoring one night stands and hit-and-run relationships. The more Anju meddles, the more her children resist in ways large and small. Raj loses a coveted promotion to his old friend Brian (David Ari) and suspects racism, but doesn't discuss the matter with his mother or his fiancee, from whom he begins to withdraw without explanation. Nina reluctantly agrees to a date with Ashok (Aasif Mandvi), a newly arrived immigrant who was her childhood playmate in India, but also begins secretly seeing her old boyfriend Sam (Rex Young) again. Things come to a head at the elaborate Indian wedding of a family friend, and in the aftermath Raj and Nina must come to grips with their own desires and with the way in which they identify themselves culturally: Indian, American or some hybrid of the two. "Desi" is a term Asian Indians use to describe themselves, and "ABCD" is a rebuke: It stands for "American Born Confused Desi," and is whispered between Nina's back because she wants to assimilate completely. The film's style is best described as utilitarian, but it gets the job done; the performances range from good to a bit amateurish. Though the particulars of Raj and Nina's family problems are rooted in ethnicity, anyone whose plans for his or her future have ever conflicted with the ambitions of a well-intentioned parent will be able to identify with their frustrations. leave a comment --Maitland McDonagh
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