■ Title — Meet the Patels
■ Directors —Geeta V. Patel, Ravi Patel
■ Cast — Ravi Patel, Geeta V. Patel, Champa V. Patel
■ ©2014
■ Rated PG
■ 1h 28min
■ Documentary, Comedy, Romance
Watch it free with ads on YouTube.
Culture-clash has rarely been documented in such up-close-and-personal detail. Ravi is a first-generation Indian-American who’s about to turn 30, which is well beyond the age at which his parents think he should be married. He also thinks he’s been a bachelor long enough, but along the way to marriage he wants to honor his Indian cultural heritage, honor the specific customs of the vast Patel family (which is practically a culture of its own), and uphold the principles of individuality and free choice from his American upbringing. After considerable advice from and discussions with his parents, Ravi begins his search for a bride with a strategy that integrates ancient traditions, contemporary sensibilities, and the latest technology. The quest – alternately tense, perplexing, frustrating, and hilarious – was filmed by his sister Geeta as it happened, with animation and narration substituted where photography was impractical.
