Photo courtesy of Savannah Film Festival
Written by Paige Cano
If you want to pull your hair out listening to your parents at 16, just imagine them determining who you marry. What began as a family vacation video turned into a six-year project for Ravi and Geeta Patel, first generation siblings of immigrant parents from India. As the film progresses, you begin to piece together what the film is truly about: Ravi’s inner struggles to balance his culture and happiness.
“Meet the Patels” is more than just a slice of life documentary; it’s a hilarious, stressful and sometimes aching look into Ravi navigating through the struggles of romance and family bonds, all the while being filmed by Geeta herself. The roller coaster that ends up being Ravi’s search for a bride defies the stereotype of predictable and seemingly scripted tales to lead the viewer through scenarios that are hilariously and emotionally accessible, yet vastly different than many multi-generational Americans have ever encountered.
After two and a half years of keeping his white girlfriend from his tradition-bound parents, Ravi gives in to their wishes of arranging his marriage. While this practice isn’t a secret to most of the Western world, the processes by which matches are considered in the technology age is, to say the least, surprising. Upon entering the “marriage market” of Patels — led by literal resumes for marriage called “biodata” — Geeta follows Ravi’s romantic journey from dating sites to domestic and international travel, all in the name of potentially meeting the perfect Indian girl.
The past and present are distinguished during animations of sit-down interviews with Geeta, and serve as a sort of lighthearted narration. Past events include a humorous retelling of their father’s courtship of their mother and their eventual journey to America, as well as a backstory of Ravi’s love affair with his ex. Eventually, the past meshes with the present when Ravi finally realizes what’s been preventing him from making a connection on his 20-plus dates.
Relatable and laugh-out-loud funny, “Meet the Patels” reveals truths about family and the inner journey we all go through to find love with others and within ourselves. While some parts were slow or painfully awkward, they all played into the feeling of being part of the family.
