The Namesake 

In the same way that an artist can use a series of simple strokes to sketch a complex work, this movies uses a sequence of unremarkable moments in a family's life to  sketch a bigger picture of their relationships, tensions and hopes as they cling to some of their traditions while also accepting some inveitable changes of their "new world".

We start with with Ashoke (the father) as a student on a train in India reading Gogol - then it crashes. Next we see the arranged marriage to Ashima, the shift to New York, the birth of Gogol (aka Nikhil) and later his sister Sonia (who does not feature much).  As Gogol grows he wants to change name and later discovers more about his father's choice of the name.  The names drama relfects the bigger picture of the gap between two cultures.  Gogol's first girlfriend is a rich blonde American (Max).  Then the early sudden death of his father jolts him back to a closer ties with his Bengali heritage, a break with Max and then an unsuccessful marriage to a second generation Bengali beauty, Moushimi.

It's a totally absorbing movie that I thoroughly enjoyed.  This photo shows Gogl introducing his first girlfriend Maxine to his mother.  A great bonus is the beauty of the Taj Mahal seen during a family visit when Gogol is just finishing high school.