Meet the Patels

Meet The Patels

In 2010 I moved with my wife and child to Calgary, Alberta.  When we made the move we did not thing that we would go through much of a culture shock.  Calgary is a large city, but it is still a western Canadian town on the prairies.  We had no idea what was in store for us.

Being two white kids from small prairie towns, my wife and I grew up with our limited knowledge of outside cultures coming from the Chinese restaurants and Taco Bell.  We were pretty limited in terms of cultural exposure, but then we moved to Calgary...

We discovered that a large part of the citizens of Calgary are from India.  I knew nothing about India or Indian culture.  In fact I knew so little that when I was a teenager I completed a small assignment that included researching a country a cooking food from that country.  I was assigned India and I make curried beef.  I was unaware of the sacred nature the cow has in India.  That was a fail on my part.

I have grown up since the curry beef incident and I have learned a lot about Indian culture from co-workers who are from India.  I have become fascinated by the culture, and this is why I really liked Meet The Patels.  

Raj Patel is the subject of this documentary.  We follow his journey to get married and deciding between following his heart and pleasing his parents.  I found Raj's parents delightful, especially his father.  Raj's story was compelling and his decisions were frustrating, but that was part of the lesson that I took from the film.  We cannot control the actions and choices of others.  We can influence, but that is the extent of our reach.

Documentaries are difficult to review.  They are often filled with propaganda and biased opinions that try to sway your thoughts one way or another.  Meet The Patels does not do that.  I think that is why I enjoyed it. The varying opinions of the family members were told, but all in all, this was one man's journey to finding a relationship and it was done with an amateur camera man (as Raj points out at the beginning of the film) and charming animation.

It was fun and eye-opening.  I have enjoyed the experience and don't think I'd watch it again because it is a journey that I've already taken. I'd rather go and have some Indian food instead.

I categorize this film as:

Enjoyable

Charming

Helpful, since it shows you that everyone worries about marriage.

3/5 Stanley Cups. An enjoyable documentary. 

Format: Netflix

Viewing Period: One time through, with a few breaks on a Sunday afternoon.

Inspired me to: Eat Indian food.  I want samosas right now!