1 The story
Umrika picked up the 2015 Sundance Film Festival's Audience Award in the World Cinema Dramatic section and it's easy to see why. The tale of an impressionable little boy, Ramakant, who watches his elder brother, Udai, leave their dusty village of Jitvapur to live the impossible American dream, Umrika contains many twists and turns in this unique coming-of-age narrative. The story, written by director Prashant Nair, is engaging and leaves you emotionally invested in the lead characters' well-beings.
2 The cast
Led by Life of Pi's Suraj Sharma in his first Indian feature, the terrific cast comprising of actors Smita Tambe, Rajesh Tailang, Amit Sial, Pramod Pathak, Prateik Babbar and Adil Hussain all make up a fantastic ensemble which is the backbone of the film. The most surprising casting the in Umrika is that of Ramakant's friend Lalu, played by The Grand Budapest Hotel's Tony Revolori, who wouldn't probably come to mind when you think of a young Indian villager. Revolori is responsible for the film's more light-hearted moments between him and Sharma.
3 The music
Umrika's score is composed by the Emmy Award-nominated Dustin O'Halloran with many piano pieces standing out. The soundtrack features many 1980s hits, both Bollywood and Hollywood, which buoy the film along.
4 The direction
Umrika's is Nair's second feature after 2011's Delhi in a Day. The inspiration for the film came from the director's own experiences growing up in different cultures. Interestingly, the film presents the anguish and momentous decision making process that goes into a migrant's decision to leave their homeland. Nair builds it all up to the tense finale which raises more questions than it answers.
5 The setting
Set in the much simpler era of the 1980s, the film places high emphasis on the long-lost pleasures of life, from a phone call to a letter in the mail from overseas. The world grows smaller and smaller daily. Umrika shows how one culture perceives another, both poignantly and humorously. To preserve the delicate sensibilities of Ramakant's mother, his father maintains that the pictures of hot dogs sent in Udai's letters are actually grilled carrots, a delicacy beloved in 'Umrika'.