Bringing in a new perspective to cinema, her narrations are beautiful
Indian-American filmmaker based in New York City, Mira Nair is a gem of a storyteller. A people person, Nair has always been drawn to the idea of working in collaboration. As a result of which are the deep-meaning stories and intense characters are portrayed on-screen with ease. The filmmaker is not only known to have an eye for bringing to the screen real-life narratives and specializing in films for international audiences on Indian society putting in context the economic, social, and cultural spheres.
The Perez Family
This 1995 American comedy film narrates the story of a group of Cuban refugees in America, pretending to be a family. It stars Marisa Tomei, Alfred Molina, Anjelica Huston, and ChazzPalminteri among various others. The story of the film is based on the 1991 novel The Perez Family by Christine Bell, narrating the life journey of a group of unrelated people, who by chance happened to share the last name, Pérez. Upon realizing the similarity, they come to the conclusion that they could easily stay in America, only if they pretended to be family. The film is set in 1980 during the Mariel boatlift and shows the nuances of their life.
Hysterical Blindness
This 2002 American television drama film is based on Laura Cahill’s stage play of the same name. The film stars GenaRowlands, Uma Thurman, Juliette Lewis, and Ben Gazzara. The film tells the story of Debby Miller, played by Uma Thurman, who is an excitable New Jersey woman living in the 1980s of the United States and searching for romance. Thurman garnered positive reviews for her committed portrayal of Debby and even won her a Golden Globe award.
Vanity Fair
This 2004 historical drama film is adapted from William Makepeace Thackeray's 1848 novel of the same name. Set in the 1802 United Kingdom, the plot of the film revolves around Becky Sharp, played by Reese Witherspoon, who is an orphaned daughter of a poor painter. She has finished her studies and is offered the job to be governess to Sir Pitt Crawley's daughters. However, before she is to start her job she takes a trip to London.
The other Mira Nair movies that have been loved and well received by the audience are Mississippi Masala, Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, The Namesake, Monsoon Wedding, and Salaam Bombay! to name a few. Her documentaries are Jama Street Masjid Journal, So Far From India, India Cabaret, and Children of a Desired Sex. Some short films are The Day the Mercedes Became a Hat and Migration..to name a few.
