Copyright © [Surabhi Parashar] [2024]. All Rights Reserved.1
Yesterday, I watched the new Netflix movie “The Man Called Otto”. Given that it’s a Tom Hanks movie, it is a must-watch. And what better day to talk about it than “The World Mental Health Day”? Otto played by Tom Hanks is an old broody guy, he is unhappy because life was unkind to him and his wife. Watching Otto transform into a nice and kind person was a pleasure. After all, who doesn’t like a curmudgeon, Especially on-screen? Be it Dr. House from the medical drama series or Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory, we all love eccentric characters on the screen. Tom Hanks did perfect justice to the grumpy character. Although the original story is set in Sweden and this movie took cinematic liberty to Americanize the plot, it still preserves its real essence. Rarely it happens to me that I read a book and think that it should be made into a movie. “The Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman is one such book for me. I remember reading it around 2015-16 and the story made a lasting impact on me.
But rather than glorifying the ingeniousness of these on-screen characters or the gradual “Tsundere” of Otto in the movie. I would like to bring your attention to the aspect that life could be difficult for a lot of us. And sometimes that person or family can’t navigate it all alone. My favorite character in the movie is Marisol, a Mexican lady who moves in next door to Otto. She is an immigrant, and with her vivacious energy just sweeps the whole neighborhood with her friendly charm. I remember talking to my Filipino neighbor for the first time. We had just moved in and in our first conversation she took the liberty of asking “When are we planning to have more kids?” She has 5 kids, and she is proud of the fact. She talked without filters but turned out to be very helpful when we needed information about schools, libraries, and other activities in the neighborhood.
Being an immigrant is hard. We leave behind the familiar and start afresh in an entirely new place. We meet new people, who speak different languages and have different customs, and we adjust to a whole new way of life. The immigration process can feel overwhelming, and don’t get me started on the never-ending paperwork. To establish ourselves and navigate life in a new environment we try to understand new cultural practices, and often encounter obstacles while trying to access resources and opportunities. But “EXPATS” handle this every single day, without any pretense, and with a brave smile on their face.
On World Mental Health Day, I would like to remind you that you may encounter people like Otto who sulk and complain about everything, or immigrants who talk too much. Everyone has their struggles, but maybe we can try to see through their shields. We all need support; life can’t be lived alone. Let’s cherish it and share it with our neighbors and friends.
And last but not least, my suggestions for the weekend binge-watching 😊.
- Expats a miniseries starring Nicole Kidman (Amazon Prime Video)
- Have you eaten yet? By Cheuk Kwan (Read the book or watch the short videos on YouTube)
Have a good weekend guys 😊.
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