When two people get together, very often they rely on their mutual feelings at first sight, those stirrings and impulses that they feel in the early stages of meeting. However, people are independent beings after all. Each of us has a different story of growing up, and everyone sees things from a different perspective. How much more so for men and women who have grown up in different cultures.
There are many people who choose to instantly give up as soon as they encounter some difficulties or differences in opinion; but there are also people who, after experiencing an important life-changing moment or even a close encounter with death, come to understand the preciousness of love and finally overcome all obstacles.
It is possible to give many elaborate reasons, but making a film that is able to convey its ideas completely while being fun to watch without losing its narrative coherence is not easy to do at all.
The record-breaking Rotten Tomatoes 98% fresh romantic comedy “The Big Sick” has accomplished this.
Kumail Nanjiani is a well-known New York stand-up comedian in real life; his involvement in the HBO series “Silicon Valley” has turned him into a new darling of Hollywood. Emily V. Gordon, his wife in real life, is a film producer and a Pod Cast host.
“The Big Sick” stars Kumail himself and is a romantic comedy co-written by him and his wife Emily; the whole film is adapted from real events that have happened to them.
Kumail comes from a traditional Pakistani family. One evening after his show, he met Emily and they fell in love. But according to Pakistani traditions, the marriage of children must be arranged by their parents. Kumail’s parents are first generation immigrants to the United States. Although they have settled in Chicago for a long time, they still hope to help Kumail select an appropriate Pakistani wife. No matter how unwilling Kumail is, they still regularly set him up on blind dates.
Although Kumail loves Emily, he knows that his parents would never approve of their being together. So he deceived Emily and let her think that his parents know about her presence; he also deceived his parents and let them think that he is seriously considering the partners that they introduced to him.
But paper cannot contain a fire. Emily finally found out about Kumail’s lie, and after a fierce quarrel, she proposed a breakup.
They thought that their love has reached an end. But Emily suddenly became ill and fell into a coma; after receiving sudden notice, Kumail hurried to the hospital and happened to meet Emily’s parents who had also hurried to the hospital. In the process of taking care of Emily by the three of them, Kumail gradually realized the meaning of true love. Kumail made up his mind to be with Emily, but this decision also ruptured his relationship with his parents.
The film incorporates many links — including Emily and Kumail’s attitude in dealing with their romance, the way in which Emily’s parents and Kumail’s parents deal with each other, the family relationship and conflicts between Kumail and his parents, and so on. Although there are many elements, nothing appears redundant — perhaps they also reflect the complexities of real life.
It has been a long time since a film has made me laugh so deliriously, and then suddenly made me feel a lump in my throat.
Everyone likes to dig themselves into a corner because of love, predict things that have not yet happened, and then feel timid and hesitant, and finally give up because of some unnecessary complexities. Perhaps in real life, something as dramatic as Emily’s falling into a coma may not happen very often. But this film has allowed us to understand that a great love is worth our while to let ourselves go and accept it bravely. Any gulf that appears impossible to bridge is actually no excuse for love to fail.
The film has received consistent praise, perhaps it’s because a comedy talk show actor has written the script, which has enabled the viewers to laugh through their tears and finally comprehend life. The film has also given lovers an inspiration, so that couples who grew up in similar environment have no excuse for their love to fail.
To love, you must let go and give yourself to love. Life only happens once. Be brave for once for the person you love and have absolutely no regrets in life.
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