For our research placement the other two Canadian girls at Northampton University and I have chosen to work with a charity organization called Dostiyo. Dostiyo is support group for south Asian women (here is the link if you are interested in finding out more http://www.dostiyo.org.uk/). Dostiyo also has sister organizations who work with south Asian men as well as south Asian girls. When we heard about this organization we thought it would be the perfect organization to be placed with since our topic is diaspora. Working with this organization has been great, so far we have been able to eat lots of fabulous south Asian dishes as well as take part in activities such as yoga and Bhangra dancing. The clientele of Dostiyo is almost, if not entirely first generation immigrants to Britain. So what is it that makes the south Asian migration story so much more difficult than that of my own family story? In talking with these ladies and hearing their stories I began to reflect upon the notion that I have no idea what it is to be a person immigrating to a country, which is very different than that of my own. I have no idea what it is to be a visible minority, and I have no idea what it is to have a culture and set of traditions that further sets me apart from the dominant culture of my host country. In attempting to gain a better understanding of the specific experiences of the south Asian diaspora to Britain, I watched a few, British films with south Asian diaspora themes such as Bend it like Beckham(2002), Bhaji on the Beach(1993), and Anita and Me(2002).
Of the three films, my favorite film was Anita and Me (2002). This story, which was based on the novel written by Meera Ryal in 1996, is told through the eyes of a very intelligent 10 year old girl named Meena, who lives in a small town in England in the mid-seventies. Throughout the film Meena is in conflict with what she is, and what she wants to be. What she sees in own house and family, and what she sees in the other families in the neighborhood. Anita, who is a beautiful white girl, attracts Meena instantly and he realizes that the wants nothing more than to be accepted by Anita and be her best friend. The major challenge for Meena to overcome in this story is how she is going to fit into British culture, being that she is so visually different from the rest. The dominant themes in this movie are culture, and the search for a personal harmony that works for Meena and racism. Related dominant sub-themes in this film include clash of cultures, cultural hybridity and growing up. Culture and racism are looked at through the eyes of ten year old Meena, who wants nothing more than to fit in, which is the same as every child her age.
Author Ryal created a significant juxtaposition between the characters of Meena and Anita. Throughout the movie Meena wishes for white skin and blond hair, physical characteristics that Anita, a girl who lives in the same town embodies. She sees Anita, beautiful white skinned and blonde and admires her and how life seemed so easy for this girl. However throughout the movie you realize that Anita has her own obstacles which Meena does not recognize and is too young to understand. Scenes showing Anita’s family always include fighting and neglect. Later in the movie Anita is found fornicating with a boy from the town in the forest and explains to Meena that she is getting married, as she shows off her ring that is the tab from a can of pop explaining that they are in love. It becomes known to the audience that Anita has far less than the picture perfect life that Meena thinks that Anita does, and at the end of the movie Anita is left abandoned by her family.
I think that this significant juxtaposition was two-part. Firstly, I think that Ryal was trying to recognize and expose the feelings that many second generation immigrants feel as they grow. The purpose of this was to shed light on the challenges many immigrants face and to let the immigrant audience know that they are not alone in these feelings. She did this through the character of Meena who expressed her annoyance and embarrassment with the cars full of fake relatives piling into her house and poking her cheeks. One point that stuck out for me was when during their celebrations when the children were asked to sit in the circle and do something nice. The other children did short acceptable Indian dances. It is apparent that Meena thinks that this activity is stupid and doesn’t want anything to do with it. Finally Meena recites a song from the Radio and although she did a great performance her family is shocked. Going back to idea of juxtapositions, I’m sure that Anita would have loved the family time and attention that Meena was getting and taking for granted.
The second major overarching theme in this film is British racism towards south Asian immigrants. Meena and Anita have a huge falling out in the middle of the movie when Meena finds out that her supposed best friend was present during the beating south Asian man, which resulted in his death. This was the paramount act of racism and let Meena know what Anita, although she was friends with Meena, racist. The biggest point of conflict between these two best friends when they are arguing near their favorite water hole and Anita says, you’re different Meena, you’re not like the rest”, Meena gets very angry and shouts, “I am the rest!”. The two start wrestling and Anita is thrown over the edge and into the pool of water. At the end of the film Meena makes a sort of peace with her best friend Anita, but the overall problem of racism is not solved. In the end life goes on as it does, racism is there. The problem or racism is left unresolved but Meena’s personal conflict with culture is solved for now when she comes to terms with the idea of a balance between the traditional Indian ways of her family and that of the world of British culture that surrounds her. She realized that it doesn’t have to be one or the other.
I think this film is a very wonderful film and anyone interested in exploring south Asian diaspora in Britain should watch it.
-Until Next time,
Tara :)
