Ocean of Pearls

I saw this movie tonight at the Reel World Film Festival in Toronto, expecting another one of those immigrant culture clash cultural pieces in line with the Bollywood-Hollywood/Bhaji on the Beach types that contain poorly developed characters, bad acting, loud political messages and contrived and simplistic plot lines. The fact that it was helmed by a first time director with no previous film experience did not help me in formulating my preconception. Boy was I wrong! Ocean of Pearls is a moving and ultimately redeeming spiritual voyage that intelligently touched upon such topics as faith, assimilation, materialism, family and HMOs in modern secular America, while telling the story of a young Sikh-Canadian doctor who loses his faith in his religion and profession when taking on new job at a private Detroit hospital. Its not as profound (or heady) as an Ingmar Bergman film (and is not intended to be), but for a family drama it carries great weight and is a refreshingly honest portrayal of South Asians in North America.

It has been a long time since I've seen a movie that was so remarkable to watch. Ocean of Pearls encompasses you in a world of hardships, hopes, and, dreams. This film makes you feel connected to the characters in the movie even though the circumstances between the audience and the characters are vastly different. It's a simple story really, yet has an eternal message. The leading role, Amrit Singh-a Sikh- who embarked on a journey when he is offered the job of his dreams at a new organ transplant facility in Detroit. To conform, Amrit decides cut of his beloved hair to make and everlasting impression upon his board of directors. The aftermath is only more interesting, how far a man would go to fulfill his hopes and dreams? Ocean of Pearls paints a vivid picture of today's world consent vs. denial. If you ever have the chance to go see it I highly recommend because it was so beautifully done.

I saw "Ocean of Pearls" at the Sikh film festival 2008 in NYC 2008. This movie is inspirational on so many levels. The complexities of life and choices are portrayed in very impressive manner. The hard work and dedication of all involved in the creation of this work of art are evident to anyone who watches it.Watching this movie really forces you to evaluate your own conscience and ask yourself questions about who you are and who you want to be as a human being. You will find yourself thinking about things that you might have not ever thought about before. A great movie to invest a couple of hours of your time. I know this movie will be enjoyed by any who see it.