by Brian Hioe
語言:
English
Photo Credit: Film Poster
This is a No Man is an Island film review written in collaboration with Cinema Escapist. Keep an eye out for more!
SEAT AT THE TABLE is a look at the rising trend of South Asians running for office in the United States. Set during the 2024 US election cycle, the documentary follows several South Asian candidates through the course of their races, as well as several campaign staffers. This exploration is generally capable, and offers a distinctive look at Asian American youth participation in contemporary US politics.
The documentary primarily focuses on three candidates: Arizona state representative Amish Shah, Illinois state representative Nabeela Syed, and Hoboken mayor Ravinder Bhalla. Beyond those candidates, the movie also uses the presidential ambitions of Kamala Harris—who could have become the first South Asian president of the US—as a framing mechanism.
When it comes to its three featured candidates, Seat at the Table balances candid glimpses of not only their campaign activities but also their personal lives. This allows the documentary to leverage the family histories of these candidates to discuss the broader historical context of South Asian immigration to the United States.
The documentary’s most interesting portion is its discussion of the complexities of South Asian political affiliation in the US. Though most South Asian candidates and voters have leaned towards the Democratic Party, some of the most prominent contemporary South Asian politicians in the US—ranging from Vivek Ramaswamy to Bobby Jindal—are Republicans. Likewise, the documentary also explores JD Vance’s familiarity with the Indian American community by virtue of his marriage to Indian American Usha Vance, in spite of his associations with white nationalists
However, Seat at the Table avoids overt commentary on the anti-immigrant rhetoric of some quarters of the contemporary Republican Party, or any musings about why support for Republicans has increased among South Asian immigrants. Instead, the documentary uses family arguments to shed light on political tensions that exist in the South Asian diaspora in the US.
The documentary’s deliberate avoidance of editorializing on the issue of contemporary splits in South Asian politics may somewhat be to its detriment, in that its celebratory narrative of South Asian political participation can hold only together by eschewing this question. Nevertheless, apart from this narrative shortcoming, Seat at the Table proves insightful, in providing a broad look at South Asians involved in politics at all levels, and as an index of the times.