Outsourced | Film Review | Spirituality & Practice

A tour de force comedy/drama about the positive effects of cross-cultural understanding and spiritual openness. Film Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. Spirituality&Practice ResourcesforSpiritualJourneys Search Updates Donate SignIn Twitter Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube RSSFeed MENU Home Practices E-Courses ElderSpiritualityE-Courses 21-DayPrograms OtherOfferings Films Books Arts Quotes Blogs Explorations About 2007 S&PAward Winner Outsourced Directedby JohnJeffcoat Atourdeforcecomedy/dramaaboutthepositiveeffectsofcross-culturalunderstandingandspiritualopenness. FilmReviewbyFredericandMaryAnnBrussat Twitter Facebook Link Print Share ToddAnderson(JoshHamilton)worksforWesternNoveltywherehemanagestheorderfulfillmentcallcenterinSeattle.Hesupervisesthesalesrepswhoanswerthephones,takeordersforproducts,andanswerquestionsnotaddressedbythecompany'swebsite.Anderson,whohasrecentlybrokenupwithhisgirlfriend,doesn'tlikehisjobverymuch;hereferstoitas"sellingkitschtorednecks."WesternNovelty'sproductsincludeplasterofParisbaldeaglesheads,BurgerBranders,andcheeseheadhats. Onedayhisboss,Dave(MattSmith),stunsToddwiththenewsthathisentiredepartmentisbeingoutsourcedtoIndiawheretheycanget"eightheadsforthepriceofone."ThecompanyissendinghimtoBombaytotrainhisreplacementandtheothercallcenteremployees.Heisgiventheoptionofquitting,butthatwouldmeanlosinghisunvestedstockoptionsandnotgettinganyunemploymentinsurancepayments.ToddreluctantlydecidestogotoIndia. InthevillageofGharapurioutsideBombay,heismetbyPurohit(AsifBasra),thenewfulfillmentdepartmentmanager.Heisaverycourteousandenthusiasticmanwhoisgenuinelyexcitedabouthisnewjobsinceitmeansthathewillmakeenoughmoneytomarrythewomanhehaslovedallhislife.Theofficeturnsouttobeahalf-constructedbunkerwithnoneofthecomfortsorconveniencesofTodd'sSeattleoffice. ThenewstafffreelyadmittheirdifficultiesinunderstandingsomeoftheproductstheyaresellingbutToddismoreinterestedingettingthecenter'sMPI("minutesperincident")downto6minutessohecanconsiderhisjobdoneandhecangohome.Eventhoughthestaffremindshimthattheyare"nativeEnglishspeakers,"hewantsthemtoworkontheiraccentsandlearnAmericanslang.ThelastthingWesternNovelty'smostlypatriotriccustomerswanttodoistalktosomeoneinanoverseaslocationwhohastakenanAmericanjob.Butmisunderstandingsarecommon.ThestaffisquitesurprisedtodiscoverthatrubbersarenotschoolerasersinAmericaandthereforeshouldnotberecommendedtotheback-to-schoolshopper. Todd,whomeverybodyinIndiainsistsoncallingMr.Toad,overcomeshisinitialdigestiveproblemsfromthelocalfoodbutstillyearnsforallAmericancheeseburger.InBombayatavegetarianburgerplace,hemeetsanotherAmericansupervisorwhosuggeststhatheyieldtohisnewsituation.TheadviceofAsha(AyeshaDharker),ayoungwomaninthecallcenter,thathegettoknowsomethingaboutIndia,beginstomakemoresense.Beforelong,heissharingtheleftoversfromhismealswiththepoorlaundryworkersontheothersideofthewallfromtheguesthousewhereheisstaying.TherealbreakthroughcomesduringtheHoliholiday,whenIndiansplayfullytosscoloreddyeatoneanother.Hiswhiteshirtnowrainbowcolored,Toddwadesintoaneighborhoodwatertankandfloatsamidsttheotherbathers. ThiswillingnesstofinallysubmergehimselfinIndiancultureaffectshisworkingrelationshipwithPurohitandtherestofthestaff.HepromotesAshatoassistantmanagerandallowseverybodytopersonalizetheircubicles.OnatriptopickupsomeWesternNoveltyproductswhichhavebeendeliveredbymistaketoanotherlocationnamedGharapuri,ToddandAshastrikeuparomanticrelationship.SheopenshiseyestosomeHindureligiouspractices.SheexplainsthatKali,thegoddessofdestruction,isnotnecessarilyanegativeinfluence.Shemayhelpusendonecyclesothatanothercanbegin.Howtruethisturnsouttobe! JohnJeffcoat,thedirector,co-wrotethescreenplaywithGeorgeWing,basedonsomeofhisownexperiencesinNepalandIndia.Blessedwithwonderfulperformancesbyanappealingcast,thisstoryalsoisatourdeforcecomedy/dramaaboutthepositiveeffectsofcross-culturalunderstandingandspiritualopenness.ItisasheerdelightwatchingTodd'stransformation.Wecan'thelpbutrootforhimandhisnewIndianfriends. SpecialDVDfeaturesinclude"BehindtheScenes,"amusicvideo,anaudiocommentary,andaninterviewwithdirectorJohnJeffcoat. OceanParkHomeEntertainment,09/07 DVDFeature PG-13-somesexualcontent PurchasefromAmazon Related MainPractice Transformation OtherPractices Love Openness Keywords business cross-cultural relationships Traditions Hinduism ALSORECOMMENDED FilmsSetinIndia SignIn Search ContactUs SupportUs Store E-Newsletter PrivacyPolicy Twitter Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube RSSFeed Copyright©2006-2022byCIStems,Inc.,d.b.a.Spirituality&Practice