After seeing The Debut I now understand why there was a circle of this generational resentment. Ben’s grandfather was hard on Ben’s father because he didn’t think his passion was suitable for a career. It’s the same thing with Ben and his dad. Ben has an extraordinary drawing talent and wants to make it on his own going to college for art, not going to college to become a doctor. Ben and his father constantly butt heads because of the fact of the matter is, is that Ben’s father only wants the best for him. However he comes across hard headed, stubborn, and ashamed. He always thinks that Ben is out gallivanting and up to no good, when in fact he is working really hard. I understand this sense of urgency and doing everything possible to become successful. Like Ben, I am the first in my family to graduate high school and go to college. But it’s also another thing to do what you want and what your passion is, not the dreams of somebody else.
Another hard topic in the film is Ben’s resentment towards his family and his cultural traditions. It’s sad to think that somebody would be so ashamed of that, however understandable because most people don’t get to have that experience of cultural traditions, and sometimes it may come across as judgmental when somebody doesn’t understand that. Ben becomes so wrapped up in wanting to be white and tries to hide the fact that he is a person of color.
