Outsourced (2006)

Hollywood has been the source of so many cinemographic memories, I can understand it being hard to just let go of the "let the professionals handle it" mentality and step into the Film Festival Camp to see what independant film makers are up to. Outsourced is one movie that will have you changing your mind.

When Todd Anderson (Josh Hamilton) is told his company is moving to India and that he will be training his replacement, he stumbles between concern for his coworkers, wondering how they will "fool" their patriotic customers, to his own stock options... very realistic.

The director chose realism in dealing with much of this movie, we don't once see even a panoramic shot of the Taj Mahal. Mis-matched shops, crowded streets, fabric draping from doors and windows... even an incident with drinking ice made from the Ganges (bad idea - interesting toilet). "Mr. Toad" (as Todd is known to his Indian coworkers) spends his nights training the new call center manager and having his eyes (and heart) opened to a whole new world. Asha, his beautiful and talented Assistant Manager who suggests that he needs to "learn a little about India" keeps him on his toes asking questions about the culture of the United States and faking a standard American accent.

Like great curry, everything about this movie leaves a pleasant flavor in your mouth - don't miss the colorful Holy day, the Kamasutra Hotel, or the flooded call center floor on a Saturday afternoon. (As a bonus: you may even learn how the Monkey Pulls the Turnip.)