American Made

"American Made," a comedy (with dramatic touches) about an American Sikh family whose Jeep Grand Cherokee breaks down on the way to the Grand Canyon. The father, a patriot and an optimist, is incredulous when his son points out that people aren't pulling over to help them because of his turban. I usually find films with these kinds of themes to be heavy-handed and earnest, but this one was genuinely funny, with very good actors, and not sanctimonious in the slightest.

Sherat Raju takes a simple story about a roadside breakdown and turns it into an emotionally charged voyage challenging the main character's core beliefs. Anant is a sympathetic, though naive, immigrant Sikh father who believes in the American dream; through his son Rajit, his eyes are opened to some of the prejudices of American society. The film uses humor and interpersonal conflict to build to a powerful moment between father and son at the film's end. Anant's wife and older son are used well to counter balance the conflict between Anant and Rajit, and to increase the tension of the conflict at key moments. It's an economical piece of film-making that packs a powerful punch. Well worth watching.

A Sikh family is stranded in the desert, in the South West, and no one will pull over and give them a jump. The patriarch's youngest son attributes it to the fact that they are of color and that their father is being perceived as a terrorist, due to his turban, dark complexion and the fact that the family clearly isn't blonde haired and blue eyed.

This film is intelligent, beautifully executed and even humorous. No doubt, this film is hard to find, but if you DO find it, please watch it. It will clue you into how our United States culture views foreigners (in this time of great social unrest), and the struggle for minorities to rise above common social and racial stereotypes.

Someone who commented before me wrote that this is a student film. That is very hard to believe because of the professional style camera and whatnot. Regardless, it is a very nicely done short. Great acting from all of the cast. Although the setting does not change and it is not faced paced, it keeps you engaged. While it is comedic, it isn't a feel good, everything is alright movie. It displays things the way they really are, rather than film usually portrays it. If anything it will dispel the hidden sentiments, feelings and opinions many have of minorities. Of course everyone will deny it, but the media and the American majority view and portray people of different descent such as Indians and Middle Easterners as faceless, expendable, unimportant people, who simply exist for the source of humor based on stereotypes, or to serve as villains. In this short Anant (the father of the family) is an Indian man who wears a turban and is very pro-America. That's something the media usually will not show, for that is not what people want to see. People only like to see what re-affirms their beliefs and prejudices. This short may open their minds. Everyone should see this.

I have to say, this is one of the best shorts I have ever seen. Not only was the story understated, yet poignant, it was beautifully shot. More importantly, it was very polished, especially for a student film. It was clearly a very well thought out project.

Even our teenagers, who resisted seeing the film both enjoyed it and understood the lessons offered by Shara Raju and his team. It has subsequently led to some very interesting discussions at the dinner table.

I am confident we will be seeing big things from these folks in the future. My congratulations on a very nicely conceived and completed project.