My Own Country

I enjoyed seeing the portrayal of Southern rural culture, Indian_Americans, different social classes, gay vs straight, doctor vs patient, husband vs wife all together dealing with terminal illness (AIDS). Since I'm familiar with all of these I can vouch for their accuracy. One drawback was a bit too much softness and sentimentality especially by the primary character, the doctor. A more hard-nosed approach, as shown by the ER TV show doctors, would have been more interesting.

I read the book and the film is very true to it. My brother died of AIDs and the way the medical community treated him is very well documented in this film. The actor who plays Dr. Verghese is very good- he is able to show both his compassion and frustration with the other people in the medical community. A lot has changed, but the film is an accurate account of AIDS in the 1980's in a rural community. I also liked the music- Indian and the part the wife played- her dancing was exquisite.

I liked this movie a lot and it was particularly interesting to me as my wife's family lives near the hospital featured in the film. Although this is WELL within the "Bible Belt", I was thankful that the film didn't gloss over the attitudes of these country folk but also didn't paint them all as pin-heads--something a sloppy director and writers COULD have done. Instead, the film, to me, seems less a film about AIDS and rural attitudes than a film about a doctor who is losing his family and sanity because he is too dedicated to his job. The man is very decent and caring but he tries to be there for everyone and is left with nothing for himself or his lonely wife and kids. Excellent acting all around and the same can definitely be said for the writing and direction. The film, by the way, was made by Showtime and is based on the real-life experiences of Dr. Verghese in Johnson City, Tennessee. An excellent and unexpected surprise for a made for TV picture.

I am surprised that I hadn't heard of this film before I stumbled onto it on Hallmark. It is directed by Mira Nair, who was responsible for Salaam Bombay and Mississippi Masala, and stars Naveen Andrews who was so good in the English Patient. And also features Marisa Tomei and her brother Adam, and the excellent Glenn Headly. A great cast doing great work.

This is the story of a young Indian doctor in Tennessee treating various people living with HIV/AIDS. Their stories are beautifully intertwined with his because he relates to their sense of ostracism - his because he is Indian and theirs because they have a disease that is much misunderstood.

The diversity of the stories is impressive - a straight man who contracted it through a transfusion, an elderly gay couple who have been together all their lives but engaged in recreational sex outside the relationship, a married bi-sexual and his wife, and a single gay man from a very religious family. The story of the gay couple is especially moving and unique in movies.

The acting is universally fine and the direction and script very strong. It's also a true story, which makes it even more worthwhile. Excellent.

I won't summarize the plot, that's been done in other reviews. What is fascinating about the movie is its unique way of filming, the characters that touch one's heart and the choice of people who are in the movie. The setting is removed from the typical AIDS movie set in an urban center, which makes it even more compelling and then you add an Indian doctor who has probably faced prejudice in this country and it's a powerful statement. The 80s were a holocaust for persons with AIDS. No money was available for very much at the time in rural areas. The actor who played the doctor was a remarkable testament to what medicine is about: pain when you can't help someone get well, troubles at home; raw emotions; I would recommend this movie for anyone to begin to understand what having AIDS in the 80s in a rural area was like. Even the smalltown gay bar is/was typical of what the gay bars are like in small towns. Tears roll if you really get engaged with the movie!! If you don't, then you probably don't connect with the issues presented. Another masterful showpiece from Showtime...another perspective from Showtime who also did "Behind the Red Door" this year!! BRAVO!!!