After the Wedding, Essay Example

The film “After the Wedding” addresses areas of global planning. The struggles of money, obligation, social and political issues that vary from urban poverty, city, neighborhood, and the region. Centered on an Orphanage in India, it shows the disparity of poverty and individuals doing what they can to protect the youth. The second half of the movie takes place in Denmark, showing the other side of the scale where money is not an issue and can buy almost anything. This movie allowed the viewer to see the social and political issues that arise when poverty is prevalent, and the obligation that coincide with money.

Urban poverty and hunger

“After the Wedding” exposes its viewers to the life of urban poverty and hunger. This is shown in the most heart-breaking, eye-opening manner by showing this through children. Jacob Peterson was born and raised in Denmark; however he made a life for himself in India where he ran the orphanage for poor homeless children. Orphanages require money to operate and Jacob must find a way to acquire it. The orphanage struggling to keep its doors open in at the brink of closing, Jacob is doing everything he can to raise the money necessary. If Jacob fails, these kids end up back on the streets of India fending for them.

The streets of India are flooded with poverty. Of course there are individuals with money, but their obligation to help others in nonexistent as shown in this film. The burden fell on Jacob who was committed to keeping the orphanage up and running. Poverty and hunger are issues all around the world, not just in India. However, the film allowed the viewers who may have never been exposed to it prior, to see that there is a real need to help others in need. Jacob took his responsibility seriously because he knew if he didn’t raise the funds to keep food on the table and the orphanage afloat, these children would be right back on the street.
Politics of giving

The old saying if something is too good to be true it usually is. This holds true in “After the Wedding”. Jacob gets an offer from a rich Danish businessman that gives him the hope of saving the orphanage. But there were stipulations that went along with it. He first had to fly back home to Denmark to meet with Jorgen. After his initial meeting he is then given more options and stipulations that began with attendance to Jorgen’s daughter’s wedding. The funding of the orphanage did not come without a hefty price tag in exchange for the four million dollars of funding. Giving up his passion of running the orphanage to move back to care for the family he didn’t know existed. The politics of giving shows that the one with the money ultimately makes the rules.
Private space vs. public space

Cities establishments are founded on the principle of private and public space. Private space are exactly as assumed, only open by invitation. This is homes, establishments, and even some businesses that the public cannot just enter without an invitation or purpose. These are common in every neighborhood, city, and even region. Geographic location does not dictate the terms of private space versus public space. The public space is seen as communal, and there is no limitation to who enters or uses it. For example, parks, streets, sidewalks, and other areas are not available by invitation only; they are for public to use within the realms of the governing laws. When it comes to homeless people, you often hear of them sleeping under bridges or in parks because these are public places and the repercussions are simply being told to move. Entering a private space is illegal and could have serious repercussions that go along with it.

“In Time Square he laminated the forest of telephone booths and lampposts that have become archaic impediments in the era of cell phones and lighted signs, but he praised the farsighted zoning law enacted in the Edward I. Koch era that demanded those lighted signs. In Bryant Park Mr. Gavin exalted the plan by which local businesses bonded together during the 1980s and retailers on the site helped to pay for one of the most incredible urban transformation in New York history. Once a crime-ridden symbol of urban blight and the bankruptcy of public space, the park was a crowded wonderland the other day, with its Christmas market, food stalls and café.” (Kimmelman) The New York representation of public and private space as explained in the New York Times. Transforming and changing urban poverty into the potential for prosperity and opportunity. Public space is not always best for the community; in excess it can create an environment that breeds crime and poverty versus the alternative.
Social networking

Social networking can broaden the opportunity for communities in different ways. “In a well-organized community, all of these technological improvements might admirably widen the scope of social life: in the disorganized communities of today, they narrow the effective range of the person. Under such conditions, nothing can happen spontaneously or autonomously – not without a great deal of mechanical assistance.” (Mumford) A well organized community creates opportunity for improvement and a much broader social network. Without an organized community, chaos is most likely.

Essentially social networking involves a grouping of individuals into a specific category. In this movie the orphans are representing a social network of homeless children or of poverty. They live together under one roof and are equally dependent on Jacob for their food and shelter. The group represents poverty and the disparity within India. The other group is Jorgen and his family. The wealthy of Denmark. Living in a high-class and luxury, they want for nothing that money can buy. These two completely different ends of the spectrum are clearly represented in this movie.
Global communities

“After the Wedding” did not depict a global community. The option to receive an investment from another country was presented with ulterior motives. They were not interdependent in any capacity. The likelihood of creating a global community is slim to none; however there are many organizations that have been established for the well-being of humanity. Essentially these said communities would be able to help individuals in need regardless of their geographic location. Organizations are in place but the funding versus the need is not even close to comparable.
Lack of family and social support network

In the picture perfect home there is a functioning family that operates as a social support network. Dad loses his job and his brother is able to help the family out till he finds another one. Dad returns the favor when his brother is in need. This family functions to support each other to ensure that everyone is doing well. This film showed both sides of the equation. The orphans obviously had no family; therefore their social support network fell within the walls of that orphanage. They had no back up no one else to ensure their wellbeing. Jorgen showed how a strong family structure should function. Knowing of his limited time left he wanted to make sure his family would be cared for after he was gone. This was what Jacob was needed for. “After the Wedding” shows in many ways how family and social support network is a vital part of a functioning community.

References:

Kimmelman, Michael. “Treasuring Urban Oases”. New York Times, December 2011. Print.

Mumford, Lewis. “The City in History”. Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc, 1961. Print.