2023 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
Obsessed with American culture and all that the country has to offer, Vishavjit Singh travels back to the United States to live the American dream. However, Vishavjit doesn’t find peace and solace in the land that he hoped would welcome him with open arms; instead he finds himself the butt of jokes and the target of discrimination. He is an American Sikh, and he’s found a unique way to fit into the culture–by dressing as the beloved Captain America.
American Sikh takes place on the busy streets of an American city, and as Vishavjit navigates the turbulent sea of hatred, he finds himself feeling alone, unlike the others that walk beside him. American Sikh does a brilliant job of developing isolation, of creating something that truly resonates with viewers and allows them to feel as if they were in Vishavjit’s shoes. To turn such a busy story into something that can make viewers feel alone is a tall task, but Directors Singh and Ryan Westra combine hustle and bustle with isolation in a way that allows American Sikh to be beautifully accessible.
The film concluded with a short tribute to anyone and everyone who has ever experienced anything like Vishavjit has–and those simple words pull viewers in for one last time. American Sikh extends itself beyond just immigrants, beyond Sikhs, and it finds itself touching individuals from all walks of life. This is a nice touch at the end of the film, as it effectively wraps up what had been brewing throughout the course of the film–and it adds just one more level of depth that widens its range and strengthens its possibility of success.
Singh has the most amazing presence that allows him to, so wonderfully well, captivate audiences. His voice is serene, calming, and nearly perfect. He’s well spoken, but still contains hints of his own culture and heritage that makes its way through and creates a well-layered character. American Sikh is a project of passion, one that evokes emotion throughout its entirety–and Singh’s impeccable voice brings balance to the film, a balance that continues to invite from beginning to end.
Comic book films are more popular than they’ve ever been before–and American Sikh pulls viewers into a comic book much like some of the biggest films of the past decade. The animation looks like it’s been pulled directly from the pages of a comic book, and the subject matter only adds to this. It’s the perfect time for American Sikh, and it capitalizes on the popularity of the genre and the brand.
American Sikh transports viewers to a comic book inspired world–one in which a slight variation of the beloved Captain America exists, but in a way that it’s more far reaching than usual. Singh is ultimately the driving force behind the film with his charming voice and accessible stories–but the film as a whole is accessible to all, and does all that it needs to in order to reach its viewers with ease and efficiency. American Sikh is a brilliant tale of diversity and acceptance that will entertain and educate from beginning to end.
Directed by Ryan Westra & Vishavjit Singh.
Written by Ryan Westra.
Starring Vishavjit Singh & Sean Zwan.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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