Tribeca Presents AMERICAN SIKH Film Review — Harmonizing Identities

Posted on by Jamal H. Goodwin Jr.

“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

Jamal H Goodwin Jr
Jamal H. Goodwin Jr.

About the Author: Jamal H. Goodwin Jr.

Jamal received his Bachelor's in English from Temple University. When he's not writing fiction, he can be found taking walks in nature, listening to indie rock or science podcasts, or reading comic books. Find more of his work at thefictionwriter.blog website.

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1 thought on “Tribeca Presents AMERICAN SIKH Film Review — Harmonizing Identities”

  1. The opening line of this review immediately sets the tone, creating a sense of longing and the anticipated comfort of belonging. As readers, we’re given a taste of Singh’s initial optimism, only for it to be gradually overshadowed by the weight of prejudice and misjudgment from those around him.

    The review skillfully paints the duality of Singh’s life: the richness of his Sikh heritage juxtaposed against his affection for American pop culture. It’s clear the writer’s POV is to explore the internal and external tensions Singh faces, given his dual identity in a xenophobic environment. The writer’s POV dives into the deeper waters of societal expectations and the battle between heritage and contemporary identity.

    The writer’s emphasis on the film’s animated nature gives readers a taste of its unique visual texture. I also think the transition the writer mentions about Singh’s real-life narration to animated characters leaping “from panel to panel” cleverly suggests the back-and-forth between his two worlds.

    I think the climax of this review is where Singh dons the Captain America costume. I think it greatly supports the writer’s POV as it’s a clear indication of the film’s intention to challenge stereotypes and make viewers reassess their biases.

    Overall, this review, while concise, is bursting with flavor, offering readers a tantalizing taste of pointed details, the emotions conveyed, and the seamless blend of culture and animation to captivate fans from a variety of backgrounds.

    Reply

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