“Growing Up Smith” is the feel-good, coming-of-age story of Smith, a 10-year-old boy from India growing up in Small Town, America in 1979.
As the boy's family tries to straddle the fine line between embracing the American Dream and preserving their Indian heritage, we watch our awkward little hero sneak out for a taste of Kentucky Fried Chicken (even though his family is vegetarian), don a 'Saturday Night Fever' costume, and contend with his parents as they send him to school with a yellow squash instead of a pumpkin to carve for Halloween.
And as Smith falls head-over-heels in love with Amy, the girl-next-door, he finds in Amy's father Butch the all-American cowboy he wishes his own father could be. But alas, when Smith goes on a hunting adventure with Butch, Smith's father Bhaaskar fears Smith will lose any hope of remaining a respectable Indian boy and banishes him back to India. Nineteen years later Smith will return to America, back to a place he once called home.
“Growing Up Smith” is a tribute to childhood heroes, first love and growing up in Small Town, America …in simpler times.
“A crowd-friendly immigrant’s tale.” — The Hollywood Reporter
“More powerful than ‘Lion’.” — NYC Movie Guru
“Pick of the Week!” — TIME Magazine