The 2014 film Meet the Patels centers on the topic of intergenerational cultural dissonance in immigrant families, characterized by the conflict of cultural values between parents and children. Furthermore, the conflict can be escalated if the family initially prioritizes collectivist culture and values, such as the Indian culture of interdependence. Thus, the conflict between Ravi and his family members can be perceived as intergenerational, where parents refuse to accept new cultural values while children unconsciously adopt peers’ behavior and thinking.
The film is important for understanding intergenerational cultural dissonance because it demonstrates the style of conflict immigrant families use when they disagree. Ravi primarily uses the avoiding style of conflict, where he deliberately ignores showing reaction to his parents’ statements. The main example illustrating how often Ravi resorts to avoiding style is his unwillingness to talk about his relationship with Audrey for two years. Furthermore, in the film’s opening segment, where the family rides together in a cab, Ravi’s father suggests that the next time the family returns to India, they will take Ravi’s future children with them (Patel, 2014). In response, Ravi makes direct eye contact with his sister holding the camera but proceeds to ignore the father’s suggestion to avoid conflicts. In addition, Ravi’s inability to utilize a compromising conflict style is sourced in his parents’ unwillingness to change their values.
Thus, Ravi’s use of avoiding conflict style ultimately leads him to failure in the matchmaking process. In the end, he confronts his parents not because he feels connected with them but because he acknowledges that no one can replace Audrey for him. Therefore, if Ravi had not initially avoided conflict with his parents, maybe they would have accepted the difference in their outlook on life earlier and showed respect for his choice.
Reference
Patel, G. (2014). Meet the Patels [Film]. Alchemy.