Category: Desis
Ayad Akhtar: Facing Identity/Finding Success (CBS Sunday Morning)
Dr. Ali Mattu: Why Diversity in Media Matters
Spoiler-Free Review: The Fall starring Gillian Anderson & Jamie Dornan
This show is brilliant, and really made me look at American television women in such a new and terrible light. I had seen an episode of “The Mysteries of Laura” and I know that I am comparing apples and oranges, but was really struck by the childishness and immaturity of women in their 40’s often seen in American TV and the Fall, Happy Valley, Broadchurch (these British shows) are such contrast.
We women live in a world in which we constantly have to think about our safety not only from Spector as the stranger lurking in the bushes stalking us we work on a computer in our home, but also from Spectors- the personal lying, manipulating, abusing us as he did to his wife, neighbor, grief patient, etc.
Obviously, Anderson’s Stella is simply incredible. My second favorite actress on the show? Olivia. Girl is adorable and a straight up talented actress.
–Various comments from Slate readers
Man f*cks woman. Subject: man; verb: f*cks; object: woman. That’s OK. Woman f*cks man. Woman: subject; man: object. That’s not so comfortable for you, is it?
The media loves to divide women into virgins and vamps, angels or whores. Let’s not encourage them.
-Some of my fave lines (from Stella)
Do you love cop shows, but want something w/ a different perspective? Do you love well-developed, multi-dimensional characters, especially strong women? Then, you need to check out this psychological thriller (on Netflix) ASAP! This show is NOT for everyone! If SVU scares you, avoid this show. The Fall contains some (troubling) images/scenes that will linger in your mind for days.
Metropolitan Police Superintendent Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) from London is flown to Belfast, Ireland (by a former colleague, ACC Jim Burns) to investigate why a certain murder case is taking longer than 28 days. She dresses in silk blouses and black skirts (not like a man) using her brains AND beauty. While Stella is going over routine paperwork and interviewing local detectives, a similar murder occurs. The victim is a tall, brunette, professional single woman in her early 30s. Rumors fly in the media that a serial killer is on the loose, and Stella springs into action.
Archie Panjabi left ABC’s The Good Wife (which garnered her fame/awards) to play a supporting role on The Fall. Yes, it’s THAT good! Almost all of supporting characters are quite strong, and we learn something about each as the eps go on. There is eager/brave Officer Harrington, partners McNally and Martin, and the (female) victims, among others.
As for that Fifty Shades guy, well, he’s a VERY fine actor, too (I was surprised to discover). Jamie Dornan plays Paul Spector, loving family man by day, serial killer by night. That’s NOT a spoiler- we know who the baddie is from the pilot ep! Paul is a hubby, dad to two young kids (Olivia and Liam), and a bereavement counselor working w/ the government. The viewer sees two sides of the story- very unusual in cop shows (Law & Order: Criminal Intent did that a bit). Paul truly lives two lives, fooling people closest to him while carrying no guilt. At one point, I was reminded of the monologues that Shakespeare wrote for his more compelling villains- Edmund, Iago, etc. Those speeches (directed to the audience) makes viewers into (unwilling) co-conspirators.
Today’s Special (2009)
See Aasif Mandvi before he got famous (I did- he visited an youth center where I volunteered)! While he was pretty awkward with the teens (he’s a single guy with no kids), the theatrically-trained actor has become a name in comedy, thanks to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Recently, he relased his funny memoir- No Land’s Man.
Mandvi recently commented that the romance was tacked on to market the story, but it’s essentially a story about dealing with your past (in this case, one’s heritage and father) in order to move forward in life. NYC-based sous chef Samir (Mandvi) is passed over for a much-anticipated promotion by his egotistical boss/chef, Steve (Dean Winters of Oz and SVU fame). He goes back to check out how things are going in the family restaurant (Tandoori Palace) in the old ‘hood. This film was mainly shot inside an Indian restaurant in my old ‘hood (Jackson Heights, Queens) in the Summer of 2008. (I noticed that there was a covering around it for a few days, with a few young PAs hanging about.) His father Hakim (Harish Patel, an Indian TV star) is shocked to see Samir out of the blue. Suddenly, a health issue forces Hakim to rest at home, and Samir takes over the restaurant.
Samir, who knows nothing re: Indian food, luckily meets Akbar (Naseeruddin Shah, a veteran of international cinema)- a horrid taxi driver but masterful chef. Shah steals the film with his charm, humor, and laid-back style. Rarely has an elderly desi man been so cool! This is one father-figure that understands Samir easily, unlike his own dad.
Ironically, actress/cookbook author Madhur Jaffrey (mother of Mandv’is close pal, Sakina) does no cooking here! (Sakina Jaffrey played the VP on House of Cards recently.) She plays Samir’s matchmaking mom, Farida, who sets him up on dates w/ Indian-American women via an online database (like Shaadi.com). LOL… or is this getting TOO real for some of you? There are some touching scenes in this film, aside from the relatable comedy (esp. for desi Muslims out there). Check this film (on Netflix now) out ASAP!
Knightleyemma 