Learn to love yourself

Mariane 2022-01-11 08:01:34

I have been wandering in a foreign country for a long time, and the topics of English learning and English teaching always feel a bit clichéd, with calluses in my ears and nothing new. Coupled with the understanding and dislike of the faces of many Indian states, I didn't want to watch this film. But I still trust the sincerity of Indian movies, so I still watched this "English Vinglish".
Anyone who has heard Indians speak English should have some experience. Their unique accent is much more distinctive than Chinglish. Everyone eats grapes without spitting out the grape skins. If you have the experience of calling the customer service of a telephone company (because they are mostly Indian), you know what it means to want to hit a wall.
But having said that, just get used to it.
This film is not a self-deprecating Indian accent, but a description of a small self-fulfillment and playful resistance of a traditional Indian housewife.
The daughter looked down on her because her English was not good. Her husband underestimated her and praised her as "My wife was born to make Ladoo (Indian dim sum)." They didn't know that they hurt their mother and wife. The heroine Shashi wants equality and respect. As she said at her niece’s wedding, family members will never laugh at your weaknesses, belittle you, or make you feel insignificant, family members will always be your strongest backing, and family members must help each other. Everyone finds himself weaker. When you find that you cannot communicate with your family, you have to help yourself and change yourself, because no one can help yourself better than yourself. Others laughed at the English of the housewife Shashi, and she quietly worked hard to learn English. In fact, the focus is not on learning English. After all, the quality of her English as a housewife in India is not really important, but what matters is that she has proved that she can do it.
I don't want to have more spoilers here, because everyone will find their own part of the resonance in the film.
My favorite Shashi's final insight is "learn to love yourself". The education we receive is selfless and dedication. But when following any dogma and belief, don't lose yourself. When we don’t like ourselves, everything around us is wrong; when we like ourselves and love ourselves, what we do is right.
No one can be underestimated. The cooking skills of housewives are also to be compared with others.
Learn to love yourself, and likewise, give others a look of appreciation.

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Extended Reading
  • Reymundo 2022-03-26 09:01:10

    Full of nice, traditional Indian families. but. . . Asan has no high scores.

  • Brenda 2022-03-28 09:01:08

    It is quite satisfactory, the content is not a breakthrough but substantial, and some details are very well carved. It involves a lot of human nature, family, and social issues, but the director is very smart not to dig deep, because such warm and inspirational sketches should only be "pointed to". (Hong Kong translation of "New York Intensive Reading Tour", is it funny that the monkeys sent it?)

English Vinglish quotes

  • Shashi Godbole: This marriage is a beautiful thing. It is the most special friendship. Friendship of two people who are equal. Life is a long journey. Meera, sometimes you will feel you are less. Kevin, sometimes you will also feel you are less than Meera. Try to help each other to feel equal. It will be nice. Sometimes... Married couple don't even know how the other is feeling. So... how they will help the other? It means marriage is finished? No. That is the time you have to help yourself. Nobody can help you better than you. If you do that... you will return back feeling equal. Your friendship will return back... Your life will be beautiful.

    Shashi Godbole: Meera... Kevin... Maybe you'll very busy... but have family... son... daughter. In this big world... your small little world, it will make you feel so good. Family... family can never be... never be... never be judgemental! Family will never... put you down... will never make you feel small. Family is the only one who will never laugh at your weaknesses. Family is the only place where you will always get love and respect. That's all Meera and Kevin... I wish you all the best. Thank you.

  • Laurent: Your food...

    [good]

    Laurent: .

    Shashi Godbole: No no no. You cooking hotel expert. I'm... in house cooking, very small.

    Laurent: No. Not small, not small. Food is... eh... food is art.

    Shashi Godbole: [In Hindi] When a man cooks, it's art... When a woman cooks, it's her duty.

    Laurent: What did you say?

    Shashi Godbole: I'm sorry. Man cooking... art. Lady cooking... daily job, duty!

    Laurent: No. No no. Food is... love. You cooking with love, good food. You make people happy. You artiste! Not small not small.