MovieChat Forums > Efter brylluppet (2007) Discussion > Jacob and Pramad (Little Indian Boy) (sp...

Jacob and Pramad (Little Indian Boy) (spoiler)

posted 17 years ago by gnomesb
8 replies | jump to latest

What did you make of the final discussion between Jacob and Pramad (sorry, I've forgotten the little boy's name). It seemed especially poignant and important to understanding Jacob's journey. Pramad had earlier asked 'are all people in Denmark bad people' to which Jacob had replied in the affirmative. Part of his journey was understanding that just because someone had money didn't make them as a consequence bad. It is possible also that Jacob's negative feelings about Denmark were connected with Helene also.

Pramad in the end was the one to release Jacob and give him 'permission' to return to Denmark and a different life and leave him, Pramad, behind. One of the problems with aid work is knowing when to draw back - the need is so great that there is guilt involved with stopping. I had that feeling at the beginning of the movie when Jacob and Pramad were handing out food to the children that there was never enough and what help could be provided was only the tip of the iceberg. Ultimately, he was able to provide significant support to his projects with the aid of the fund from Denmark with a family that needed him. The individual and the grand. Perhaps an important lesson to be learnt.

What did you think?

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] mhs101 16 years ago

I could not disagree more. He gave his life for Pramod and Pramod is really just a little boy at home who wants to go out and play.

[–] jelenastankovic21 16 years ago

I agree completely with you. Had he returned to India he could not have helped Pramod. He stayed in Denmark because of his new family yes, but also because it was really the only way to accomplish what he wanted.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] valkyrie31 16 years ago

I don't agree. I think part of the journey that Jacob goes on was for him to realise that he was Danish, and didn't have to reject his Danishness altogether!

I don't like the fact that he left Pramod, but in a way Jacob's return to Denmark perhaps symbolises that he has grown up - he's left his rebellious youth.

Life isn't so cut and dried.

[–] amerikanische_schoenheit 16 years ago

The last scene, as well as other scenes during the film, suggested me the idea that a billionaire family in Denmark might need to be saved as much as Pramod and the other Indian children. Just thinking about it seems unfair, unequal and unjust, but I can't help finding this thought astounding -and somewhat true.

[–] rthomp-8 16 years ago

I thought this scene was more about how Jacob had not gone back across continents (again) for someone he loved and had ended up losing Pramad's love in return. This then mirrored what had happened to him earlier in his life with Helene.

[–] mhsmocktrial 16 years ago

The people I saw this with were horrified that Jacob would leave Pramod and not take him back to a life of wealth but honestly I think it rings of a certain Western obsessed vision to think that uprooting the boy from his friends, culture, language, etc., would do him any favors. Certainly the money for food, education, and medicine will change lives but beyond that I think the film makes it clear that the presence of money doesn't absolve one of difficulties or unhappiness.

To a certain extent, I think Jacob was hiding in his work. Might his projects have been more successful and lasting if he had been able to be personable and travel to encourage help and investment? If he ran away from his new found daughter and chance to help countless more to stubbornly be near Pramod, who would have really benefitted?

By the end though, I got pretty teary at "but everything is so good here now."