It was a nice feeling to see this NZ made cross-cultural comedy film by new filmmakers at Rialto running alongside hollywood blockbusters.I would give GVG high rating for its originality and freshness. Congratulations to the first time filmmakers Jit and Promila Pal for putting their efforts and thoughts into action. Their effort is a great inspiration to all aspiring new filmmakers.
14 Reviews
Very Entertaining
rachel_parker362 May 2003
This movie was so engrossing that I was able to look beyond its occasional technical shortcomings.I loved the brilliant dialogues and the way Indian Kiwi interactions were portrayed. The music was haunting and the humor superb.What else can one ask for?
Superb exploration of multiculturalism
stormworvil13 June 2003
Above all else Gupta vs Gordon made me laugh. In a break from an real or imagined "politically correct" environment this film tackles racial and cultural issues head on, but never at the expense of a joke. New Zealand has been a multicultural country for a long while now. It's good to see a film that acknowleges this. A must see.
Bloody awful
vpanand421 May 2003
I have just arrived in new zealand recently and caught a showing of this movie at the museum. I was impressed by the fact that in such a relatively small country there was a motivation, local population of indians, and financing to get a project like this made. That is just about all that can be said for the movie. This home-made DV disaster sheds light on a few issues that ex-patriate Indians are dogged by...very badly. The acting is laughable, which is precisely what the audience did, and the production (direction, subtitles, photography) makes one wish bad film-making could be punishable by execution. The only bright spot came in the form of most of the Kiwi actors who have turned in respectable performances. The indians (an indian from america who's accent is fijian, a violin playing dad who might as well have been holding the script as he delivered his lines, and a machine-gun rattling mother in law) should try not to pursue acting any further. If the financing exists for such projects it makes one wonder what might actually happen if the community bothered to actually make a movie with effort and hard-work. they might actually make something worth watching.
I agree with vpanand4
cne-217 July 2019
This low budget family-made production tries hard, but fails on a number of levels. I am left feeling that with greater financial assistance, many of the shortcomings might have been avoided, but that is often the nature of low budget filming. This is a poor representation of New Zealand Indian film projects. Two other films that are much better are be 'Apron Strings' and 'Curry Munchers'.
My thoughts for the unenlightened........See it !!
ravenraye24 May 2003
A delicious slice of bicultural life in New Zealand - Hindu and Kiwi served up in this bright rainbow coloured feast of talent, and filmed in the wine country environment of Hawke's Bay, with glimpses of Kiwi city life in the two neighbouring cities of Napier and Hastings.
The story revolves around the various cultural differences between the cultures and the individuals, and while the serious matters of those differences are exposed and examined, by realistic attitudes and responsibilities of those individuals, a sense of humour is imbued throughout.
The Kiwis are introduced to various Hindu social conventions such as `mother in law rules' and the visiting Hindus are introduced to outspoken children, and risque barbecue parties with scantily-clad young females pool-frolicking.
The beautifully written music for this film gave a wistful but sweet and enchanting background to the film, gently introducing Hindi music to those unfamiliar with a typical Hindi movie, which uses more song and dance than scripted conversation to tell the story.
So impressed was this cinemagoer that the theme song of GVG is sung frequently around the house (in Hindi of course !) and is ready for the Karaoke...
The stars themselves shone brightly with the producers Promila and Jit taking cameo roles.
Somewhat reminiscent of smoky Bombay harbour (sigh) Napier seaside near the harbour was the scene for a bi-cultural ceremony for the baby. The ceremony was conducted picnic-style to the initial disdain of the Indian mother-in-law; however union of the two cultures was well on its way and strengthened as the ceremony was moderated by both Hindu pandit and Kiwi priest. Rituals and prayers were respectfully observed and carried out with warmth and solemnity. Once the formalities were completed, the picnic continued with all family members skipping and dancing with carefree abandon along the sands.
The film showed both cultures mixing at all levels - the teenagers having a little illicit fun between themselves with cigarettes and alcohol, daughter in law and mother in law going through complex and countless attempts to reach understanding, and the father and father in law discussing world politics.
A very pleasant surprise was seeing Chintamani Rath, acclaimed musician, play a major character in the movie. Having been privileged to hear this fine gentlemen and his ensemble in live performance, it can rightly be said that his warmth of presence and acting ability is equally as profound and excellent as his music.
To experience a myriad of familiar emotions, love, disdain, sadness, happiness, witness an amazingly colourful spectacle, as well as become familiar with some incredible intercultural interaction, you need only to
see Gupta vs Gordon, and you will come away with a feeling of total awe, excitement, and a much lightened heart.
The story revolves around the various cultural differences between the cultures and the individuals, and while the serious matters of those differences are exposed and examined, by realistic attitudes and responsibilities of those individuals, a sense of humour is imbued throughout.
The Kiwis are introduced to various Hindu social conventions such as `mother in law rules' and the visiting Hindus are introduced to outspoken children, and risque barbecue parties with scantily-clad young females pool-frolicking.
The beautifully written music for this film gave a wistful but sweet and enchanting background to the film, gently introducing Hindi music to those unfamiliar with a typical Hindi movie, which uses more song and dance than scripted conversation to tell the story.
So impressed was this cinemagoer that the theme song of GVG is sung frequently around the house (in Hindi of course !) and is ready for the Karaoke...
The stars themselves shone brightly with the producers Promila and Jit taking cameo roles.
Somewhat reminiscent of smoky Bombay harbour (sigh) Napier seaside near the harbour was the scene for a bi-cultural ceremony for the baby. The ceremony was conducted picnic-style to the initial disdain of the Indian mother-in-law; however union of the two cultures was well on its way and strengthened as the ceremony was moderated by both Hindu pandit and Kiwi priest. Rituals and prayers were respectfully observed and carried out with warmth and solemnity. Once the formalities were completed, the picnic continued with all family members skipping and dancing with carefree abandon along the sands.
The film showed both cultures mixing at all levels - the teenagers having a little illicit fun between themselves with cigarettes and alcohol, daughter in law and mother in law going through complex and countless attempts to reach understanding, and the father and father in law discussing world politics.
A very pleasant surprise was seeing Chintamani Rath, acclaimed musician, play a major character in the movie. Having been privileged to hear this fine gentlemen and his ensemble in live performance, it can rightly be said that his warmth of presence and acting ability is equally as profound and excellent as his music.
To experience a myriad of familiar emotions, love, disdain, sadness, happiness, witness an amazingly colourful spectacle, as well as become familiar with some incredible intercultural interaction, you need only to
see Gupta vs Gordon, and you will come away with a feeling of total awe, excitement, and a much lightened heart.
Feel-good movie
tomisaac_424 May 2003
Tackles some relevant issues openly and honestly within the framework of an overall feel-good movie, resulting in a fresh believable social drama.Good depiction of chaotic diverse Modern India ranging from a very conventional mother-in-law to an outgoing womanizer son from California. You will be on the edge of your seat as you enjoy each and every moment. All of it was amazing!
So, don't be scared of the foreigness--- it really isn't an issue. The movie is done so well, and the humanity and inspiration is so full, and so natural that you may actually leave the theater thinking you already know a bunch of Kiwis, "whites" and Indians!
So, don't be scared of the foreigness--- it really isn't an issue. The movie is done so well, and the humanity and inspiration is so full, and so natural that you may actually leave the theater thinking you already know a bunch of Kiwis, "whites" and Indians!
where can I see it?
cindybarnett67127 November 2004
I have heard a lot of interesting reviews and comments about this movie. I am still waiting to see it. Can anyone tell me where can I buy the DVD of Gupta v Gordon. Thanks. I was told last year its going to be screened in Christchurch. Please email me. I am really really keen to see this one. I have heard they are making a new cross cultural kiwi Indian movie. Does anyone know what is it called? I am a great fan of cross cultural movies and have traveled to many places including India. I might be misusing this space, but could'nt find anything about where to buy the DVD. so bear with me. Another thing which I found funny is why our comments have to be in 10 lines? I have been trying to post this message but every time it returns back saying that comment should be at least 10 lines long.
An enjoyable fare with honesty and empathy
samakulam9 May 2003
There is a saying in India-when a girl marries she becomes a bride, a bride becomes a mother, a mother becomes a mother-in-law and a mother-in-law becomes a nuisance. The hate-hate relationship between a woman and her daughter-in-law is home-truth on which the film industry has seldom failed to capitalise. Westerners do not understand why or how the two cows always lock horns but the urge to portray the drawing room and kitchen fights in every movie is contagious. Jitendra Pal and his charming wife Promila have intricately woven comedy and frustration in 'Gupta Vs Gordon,' an English film shot entirely in the sylvan surroundings of Hawk's Bay. This is a movie that has every appeal that you can think of-emotional, humorous and even tragic. In less than two hours, you go through the world of Shanti (deftly played by Kokila Krishna) whose disapproval of everything western transcends to her daughter-in-law Jackie (a startling performance by Kate Conaglen). As the two measure noses, a number of others parade through the frames-Zena (Emma Brown), Lisa (Kristy Whitchelo), Tuku (Andrew Burch), Barry (Michael Rewiri), Kishori (Chintamani Rath), Chetan (Monish Anand), Arti (Kanwal Singh), Rohan (Ajay Shri), Bruce (John Clark) and Singh (Jit). There is of course Promila who appears as a waitress and street walker and Tinker (Zara), the dog. Jit and Promila (the orthopedic and ophthalmologic surgeon couple) have given vent to their proclivities to the celluloid with a passion for human vicissitudes. It would be presumptuous and unfair to narrate the story in three lines-for, 'Gupta Vs Gordon' should be viewed in its entirety. You would have to face questions such as 'Do they teach Kama Sutra in Indian colleges?' or watch the seductive advances of Lisa towards Chetan (little did she know that the tiger was waiting!), wonder if every other snorting kiwi is a beneficiary of the government welfare machinery and go through dejavu with Mr Singh, complete with his persistent accent and noisy sip of tea. Jit and Lucy White who have written the story and scripted it, do not give Shanti away until the last scene, so why should I! If you had not spared a good thought for the cantankerous mother-in-law, you will not forgive yourself in the end. Jackie could not. According to the credits, Anand-Milind composed the music and had used the voices of Udit Narayan and Sadhna Sargam. I missed them.
Must see
Kristina2321 May 2003
The attempt to show two cultures and the difference, challenges, conflicts and compromises was really good. We should have more of these kind of films. Entertaining with right amount of humor despite some technical imperfections. Catching music.
Hilarious yet deals with serious issues
manishakapoor13 May 2003
I found it very hilarious, yet able to deal with some of the very important current issues of immigration, ethnocentricity, effect of dole on teenagers and drugs. It might not win any oscars, but seeing packed full of kiwi and indian audience applaude in the end , brought tears to my eyes. Need more such movies.
Highly Recommended
MaxHeywood3 May 2003
I saw Gupta vs Gordon over easter weekend and really liked this NZ made cross cultural comedy featuring Kiwi and Indian cast. It pulled together all the elements that touch the audience. Even though overall acting was average, the movie just kept going and going and its one that you just can't leave. The issue that how an immigrant can be caught between two worlds really touched my heart. Music was apt.
A Refreshing amalgamation of several motifs
Janicecox_223 May 2003
The story of Gupta vs Gordon is quite original and superior. The film offers an interesting glimpse into the world of Indians living in India, Indians living abroad and Kiwis. I must say it is a very refreshing amalgamation of several motifs.."Family Drama", .."Musical"..."cross-cultural"..."Comedy"..to name a few, but yet surmounts each of these potentially banal conventions to succeed mightily as an entertaining movie. Everyone except terminally cynical should enjoy Gupta vs Gordon.
Overall a well done film that took everyone by surprise
vinitasharma36224 May 2003
Gupta vs Gordon is overall a good movie, has a decent plot and a nice ending. Having lived in New Zealand for many years, I could straightaway relate to many issues dealt with in this movie. While there are many hilarious scenes, it had some very touching moments too.First time film-makers Jit and Promila Pal deserve a pat on their back for making this first kiwi-indian film. It does not go wrong anywhere.Very Engrossing. Music by Anand Milind is refreshing.
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