Tribeca Presents AMERICAN SIKH Film Review — Harmonizing Identities

“Finally, I was home.”

A hopeful smile lines the face of then-18-year-old Vishavjit Singh as he walks the streets of California. Wearing his turban and a casual tee and clutching a bookbag, he can’t help but look at the palm trees and young beachgoers. But before long, Singh notices the people around him aren’t returning his friendly glances — they're returning scowls. Scowls that follow him everywhere, and he suspects it’s because of his turban.

Drawn in smooth colors with rugged, chalk-like edges, American Sikh animates the true story of a young man grappling with two identities. Singh is proud of his Sikh heritage and traditions, but he also has a passion for the comics and pop culture of America, his birthplace. And on top of juggling these identities, he must contend with the pre- and post-9/11 xenophobia around him.

It is modern-day Singh who narrates and leads this short film, but that narration is carried by animation that keeps our eyes glued to the screen. You too may marvel when characters leap from panel to panel, as if they were in a comic.

American Sikh will have you lament Singh’s struggles and become appalled at America’s racism, until, upon donning a Captain America costume, Singh forces us to question our perceptions of others.

Fans of immigrant storytelling, Indian culture, American history, or comic books would love American Sikh.

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Run time: 9 Minutes

CAST:

Vishavjit Singh
Sean Zwan

CREATIVE TEAM:

Directors: Vishavjit Singh and Ryan Westra
Writer: Ryan Westra
Executive Producers: Harpreet Singh, Bicky Singh, Gurdayal Singh, and Ashley Epting
Composer: River Nason

For more information on this film and how to see it, please view the Tribeca webpage for AMERICAN SIKH.

Images courtesy of Tribeca