I is for India

"I is for India" is an engaging, emotional, and intimate documentary that explores the themes of immigration, displacement, identity, and family. Spanning a period of 40 years, it provides a deeply personal insight into a family separated by thousands of miles but connected via love, shared memories, and Super 8 films.

The documentary directed by Sandhya Suri, records the story of her grandparents, and parents -an Indian family where her grandparents moved to the UK in the 1960s for work, leaving their young children in the care of relatives in India. The documentary revolves around the exchange of audio and Super 8 film "letters" between the family members that spreads over four decades. These exchanges, initially simply an innovative way to bridge the gap between two geographies and cultures, eventually morph into an archive of family history and a testament to the deeply human longing for connection and the invaluable importance of familial bonds.

The narrative of "I Is For India" focuses on the personal, capturing individual experiences of the family while at the same time subtly reflecting on the larger issue of immigration. The struggles and dreams of her father in the UK, the feelings of her mother who had to live a life away from her young children, and the anticipation and longing of the kids waiting for their parents to return – the film showcases these human emotions in a raw and real way. Using a unique blend of audio and visual narrative devices, director Suri paints a vivid picture of the varied experiences of the members of her family.

One of the key highlights of "I is for India" is the extensive collection of Super 8 footage. Those charming, somewhat ghostlike images of a bygone era give viewers a unique window into the lives of the family members both in India and the UK. The soundscape of the film is also remarkable - filled with recorded voices, background noises, and music which perfectly matches the visual narrative, evoking intense emotions and paving the way for deeper understanding and empathy among viewers.

The film is also a commentary on the bittersweet truth of immigration. It showcases how immigrants often find themselves torn between their love for their homeland, and the new life they've built in foreign lands. The protagonist, her father, reflects on the challenging reality of this division, which impacts not only the immigrants themselves but also their families.

Interestingly, this documentary also depicts the evolution of India and England during the period of 40 years - from the 1960s to 2000s, reflected through the lives of the featured family. The thick layers of nostalgia are carefully peeled off to reveal the changes in the physical and cultural landscapes of both countries just as they were perceived and experienced by the individuals.

"I is for India" is not just a film about a family, it's a journey that people across the world can relate to, as it hits on universal themes such as love, longing, and the sacrifices that are often made in the quest for a better life. The film, owing to its raw and touching narrative, has made a deep impact and has been celebrated at numerous international film festivals, including the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.

In conclusion, "I is for India" can be praised as a riveting and emotional exploration of one family’s transient life split between England and India. It is a richly realized portrait, pieced together from fragments of recorded history. And in its relatable human story, it resonates with audiences universally, regardless of their own personal experiences with immigration. While being a memoir of a family, it also serves as a reflection on the very nature of home, identity, and sense of belonging. The powerful intimacy and universality of this film make it one not to be missed.