Preview the Namesake at the Brattle

The Namesake will screen at the Brattle at 7pm tonight, Thursday, March 15. Tickets are free, but you have to pick them up at the Brattle.

The Namesake is a movie with a powerful pedigree. Mira Nair, who was behind the brilliant Monsoon Wedding, is the director, and the script is based on Jhumpa Lahiri's novel. One of the stars, actor Kal Penn, is also looking to break out of his Harold and Kumar box to become a leading man.

The movie follows the culture clashes between a traditional generation and the new one that's more interested in finding its own way, as represented in the main character's efforts to find a name that suits him. The trailer is filled with the melodramatic music, longing looks, and brief sex scenes that hint at a big, sweeping, juicy family drama.

The Namesake is also 71% fresh according to movie-review compiler Rotten Tomatoes. The reviews suggest that the movie tries to do too much - however, that's often a problem with movie adaptations of novels. If too much plot is The Namesake's only issue, then you might want to treat yourself to the screening at the Brattle.