The Problem with Apu
November. 19,2017In the history of “The Simpsons,” few characters outside the title family have had as much cultural impact as Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the Springfield convenience store owner. Comedian Hari Kondabolu is out to show why that might be a problem.
Similar titles
You May Also Like
Reviews
I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.
Good movie but grossly overrated
Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.
I just learned more about the South Asian-American experience in 49 minutes than I have after hundreds of hours watching the Simpsons.Hari Kondabolu and Michael Melamedoff did a tremendous job creating this enthralling documentary. There is at least one white American who is going to be less ignorant now (me) and I will be recommending this to all my friends. The Problem with Apu is funny, quick-witted, personal, and filled with great special effects. The music and production values are very high as well.It's worth noting that Hank Azaria has done other questionably racist roles, including his supporting role in Along Came Polly (2004). I think Hari did a great job addressing the systemic issues as well as holding Hank accountable (like he should be).Only 1-star off because I think it could have been about 10 minutes shorter. It drags a tiny bit at the end and could have been storyboarded slightly better for pacing. Consciously or not, this film follows a similar framework to Michael Moore's docu-classic, "Roger and Me" (1989). Moore's pacing was a little better but still, this holds up with the best of em. Highly recommended.
I understand the concept. I would be annoyed too if I was spoken to in the voice of a Simpsons character in the 90's, but that's where the problem is, in the 90's. I love the Simpsons but the show doesn't have the same cultural pull it did in the 90's. The shared experiences of those interviewed all seem to have taken place a couple decades ago when the Simpson's was in it's prime. That aside the documentary was poorly pieced together and was more about stroking to ego of Hari Kondabolu than actually attacking the problems with Apu. Bottom line find something else to watch.
This documentary is educational and entertaining. Comedian Hari Kondabolu helps viewers explore issues of representation in mainstream U.S. media and how this affects society's perceptions. The folks with negative reviews have clearly not seen the film because he does address the use of satire to make fun of all kinds of people in the series. I plan to share the documentary with my high school students.
Does the filmmaker not know that The Simpsons is a satire making fun of stereotypes (1.E. Italians being gangsters, Scotsmen being crazy, or rednecks are stupid). of course not, because when you have a political agenda actually realizing that the show is making fun of these stereotypes and not enforcing them.