'Spelling the Dream' Review: Docu sheds light on Indian-Americans' Spelling Bee success, fails to dive further
Last year at the 92nd Scripps National Spelling Bee finals, eight children created history when they were declared joint champions -- seven of those children were of Indian descent. Since 2008, the winners have consistently been Indian-Americans and many have wondered why this phenomenon happens. Do Indian-Americans have some sort of magic formula that helps them dominate the spelling bee competitions?
Netflix's latest documentary, 'Spelling the Dream', directed by Sam Rega seeks to answer this question by focusing on select Indian-American students who are on their way to the finals of the 90th Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2017.
What we learn is that these children are intensely focused and the only magic formula is hard work. We see the different children discussing their strategies and what they need to do. More importantly, for Indian-American families, the spelling bee is a family affair, meaning the whole family is equally invested, even siblings when it comes to helping these students prepare for success.
This year's Scripps National Spelling Bee was canceled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, dashing the hopes of many students who had been preparing for years, mostly for those students who would not qualify next year due to the age limit. The documentary helps us understand why that disappointment would come about -- while some students seem to have other activities (even sports), for most of these students, the spelling bee is the only focus of their lives, and it helps shed light on the heavy strain that is put on these students.
Director Sam Rega intersperses at-home chats with the spellers (who range in age from seven to 14), with parent sit-downs and interviews with some well-known figures, among them CNN’s Sanjay Gupta, political commentator Fareed Zakaria, ESPN anchor Kevin Negandhi and comedian/podcast host Hari Kondabolu. A few past winners -- now adults -- also add their perspectives.
The documentary also dives into the history of Indian-American migration to the United States. In 1965, President Johnson signed the Immigration and Naturalization Act, which allowed skilled Southeast Asians, Africans and Caribbean professionals to put down roots in the US or rejoin family members already in there. It is important to note that this act also barred people of East Asian origin.
While it is understandable that the parents are proud of their smart children, we can't help but wonder if the movie peddles the model minority myth, something that characterizes Asian Americans as a polite, law-abiding group who have achieved a higher level of success than the general population. The movie does do its part to dispel the "tiger parent" stereotype, these spellers genuinely enjoy the preparation and even the competition.
We also wish the documentary had delved deeper into various issues such as the psychological effects of such intense competition and years of preparation, as well as dealing with defeats. Keep in mind, these kids range from six to 14 years old. While the interviews featured past winners, what of those who went back without a trophy, with potentially the same levels of preparation? The film also does not acknowledge the privilege of the families who are able to best prepare their children?
Moreover, most, if not all these spellers are subjected to racist attacks online, especially from adults who forget that these children are also Americans, that their skin color does not negate that fact. Again, this is not an issue the documentary dives into properly.
That said, these spellers deserve their success, and if anything, 'Spelling the Dream' shows how the myth of the "American dream" works -- first-generation immigrant parents coming to America for better opportunities who want much more for their children than they were able to get during their childhoods, and if that isn't the ultimate American dream, then what is?
'Spelling the Dream' is now streaming on Netflix.
