Far-Flung Families in Film
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This is an in-depth critical exploration of cinematic representations of the family in transnational cinema. In the age of globalisation, diasporic and other types of transnational family are increasingly represented across the film spectrum in works such as Bend It Like Beckham, The Namesake, Boys 'n the Hood, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (The Brave Heart Will Take the Bride) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. While there is a significant body of scholarship on the representation of the family in Hollywood cinema, an analysis of the depiction of the diasporic family in cinema from a comparative transnational angle has yet to be attempted. Far-Flung Families in Film fills this gap and provides an essential resource for academics and researchers with an interest in cinematic representations of the family and transnational cinema. The work will answer the following key questions: Why is diasporic cinema characterised by a preponderance of family narratives?; How does the diasporic family as constructed in cinema relate to or differ from models of family life in dominant social groups?; What role does authorship play in the depiction of the diasporic family?;
How does diasporic cinema negotiate the aesthetic and generic conventions of film genres commonly associated with the representation of the family?. It takes a theme-centred approach, examining journeys of migration, family memories, gender identities, romance and weddings. It includes 15 detailed case studies of diasporic family films.
Daniela Berghahn is Professor of Film Studies in the Media Arts Department at Royal Holloway, University of London.