Cinematic Narratives of Maternal Struggle: A Comparative
Study of The Journey of a Mother and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway
Avinash Kumar
Ph.D. Research Scholar
P.G. Department of
English.
B.R.A. Bihar University
Muzaffarpur, Bihar.
Abstract: This paper undertakes
a comparative study of cinematic representations of maternal struggle in The Journey of a Mother by Sagarika
Chakraborty and the film Mrs.
Chatterjee vs Norway by Asima Chibber. Both narratives are based on
real-life events, offering poignant depictions of mothers grappling with
socio-legal systems in their fight to retain custody of their children. While The Journey of a Mother traces
Chakraborty’s personal battle with the Norwegian Child Welfare Services, Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway adapts this
narrative into a broader cinematic context, visualizing and dramatizing the
emotional and legal challenges faced by the protagonist. This research explores
how maternal identity is constructed and contested in these two works,
examining the role of cultural displacement, bureaucratic oppression, and the
resilience of motherhood. The study also looks at the transformation of
real-life events into cinematic storytelling, comparing how the emotional
intensity, legal proceedings, and societal expectations are framed in both the
memoir and its film adaptation. Framed within a feminist perspective, the study
examines the narratives as resistance to existing structures of patriarchal
authoritative institutionalism, which is crucial in understanding maternal
agency in the global legal context. Through this comparative analysis, the
paper aims to shed light on the unique and universal aspects of maternal
struggle, while keeping in mind the ethical complexities of adapting personal
trauma for the screen. Ultimately, this study emphasizes the significant role
of cinema and literature in shaping public perceptions of motherhood,
migration, and justice.
Keywords: Maternal struggle, Cinematic adaptation,
Feminist analysis, Motherhood, Cultural displacement, Patriarchy, Legal System
Introduction
Movies and books have always been
great ways to show what people go through, and a mother's struggles are one of
the most emotional and important topics. How motherhood is shown when it's
tough because of social and legal issues, gives us a unique look at how
personal identity, what culture expects, and unfair bureaucracy all mix
together. This paper compares two stories about this: The Journey of a
Mother, a book by Sagarika Chakraborty, and the movie based on it, Mrs.
Chatterjee vs Norway directed by Asima Chibber. These works are based on
Chakraborty's real fight with Norwegian Child Welfare Services, and they show
the tough journey of a mother trying to retain custody of her kids despite a
foreign legal system working against her will.
The
study examines how both the memoir and its film adaptation construct maternal
identity and agency, focusing on their portrayal of cultural displacement,
bureaucratic oppression, and patriarchal authority. By analyzing the
transformation of Chakraborty’s personal trauma into a cinematic narrative,
this paper also addresses the ethical implications of adapting real-life events
for the screen.
Through framing the discussion
within a feminist perspective, this research paper also highlights how these
narratives resist dominant structures of power, particularly the global legal
frameworks that often undermine maternal agency. In doing this, the study
explores the unique cultural and legal hurdles the main characters face, while
also highlighting the common themes of maternal struggle and resilience.
The Real-life Struggles
Behind the Narratives
At the
heart of both The Journey of a Mother and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway lies the
true story of Sagarika Chakraborty’s confrontation with the Norwegian Child
Welfare Services (Barnevernet). In 2011, Chakraborty and her husband, an Indian
couple in Norway, got caught up in a lengthy legal fight when Barnevernet took
their two kids away.
The
child welfare service’s concerns over what they saw as inappropriate caregiving
practices were seen by Chakraborty as a gross misunderstanding of Indian
parenting norms. They separated the protagonist children from her on the
grounds that they believed she was unable to take proper care of them. Her
struggle to navigate a foreign legal system while fighting for her children’s
return forms the emotional and legal core of both the memoir and the film.
In The
Journey of a Mother, Chakraborty shares her own story highlighting the mental,
emotional, and cultural hurdles she overcame during her struggle. The writer
could not understand at all why the government here was treating her like this.
Her story is deeply rooted in her personal identity as a mother and an Indian
woman, creating a powerful sense of cultural displacement as she confronts a
legal system that is both unfamiliar and unyielding. The memoir paints a vivid
picture of the bureaucratic and legal obstacles Chakraborty encountered,
portraying the institutional bias she faced as a result of her cultural
background. Through the book, the author has expressed her pain in a very
emotional way.
In
contrast, Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway transforms this personal experience into a
broader cinematic narrative, using visual storytelling to amplify the emotional
intensity of Chakraborty’s struggle. The film dramatizes the legal proceedings
and emotional turmoil in a way that makes the story more accessible to a global
audience. While both works share a common source in Chakraborty’s real-life
experience, the film takes creative liberties to heighten the drama and explore
universal themes of maternal resilience and the fight for justice.
Maternal Identity and
Cultural Displacement
One of the central themes in both the memoir and the
film is the idea of cultural displacement and its impact on maternal identity;
it's about standing up for her identity as an Indian mother in a foreign
country. In both The Journey of a Mother and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway,
cultural misunderstandings between Indian and Norwegian parenting practices
play a significant role in the unfolding drama. Barnevernet’s perception of
Chakraborty’s caregiving practices—such as feeding her children by hand or
co-sleeping—were viewed through a Western lens, which led to the removal of her
children.
In her memoir, Chakraborty dives into the isolation she
experienced as an immigrant mother dealing with an unfamiliar legal system. She
portrays her battle as more than just fighting the law; it's also about facing
a society that doesn't get her cultural roots. It was very sad for the author
that her motherhood was being questioned. The book sheds light on how cultural
uprooting takes an emotional toll showing how others who didn't share or
understand her cultural values questioned and challenged Chakraborty's identity
as a mother.
Similarly, in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, the film
visually represents this cultural displacement by contrasting scenes of the
protagonist’s life in India with her experiences in Norway. The film emphasizes
the protagonist’s sense of isolation and frustration as she navigates a legal system
that seems to penalize her for her cultural practices. The film uses movie
techniques like close-ups, lighting, and music to show her inner struggle.
These methods make the emotional impact of being displaced even stronger.
Bureaucratic Oppression and
the Legal Struggle
Both
The Journey of a Mother and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway offer scathing critiques
of bureaucratic and legal systems that don't consider cultural differences.
Both these stories show the Norwegian Child Welfare Services as a strict and
rigid institution, more concerned with following procedural norms than
understanding the unique circumstances of the case. In the memoir and the film,
the main character faces bureaucratic oppression. This represents the broader
structures of male-dominated authority that often undermine maternal agency.
In
the memoir, Chakraborty recounts her interactions with Barnevernet as cold,
bureaucratic, and devoid of empathy. When she tried to explain her cultural
customs, she faced indifference, and her request for understanding didn't get
through. The memoir vividly illustrates the emotional and psychological toll of
battling an institution that seemed determined to strip her of her maternal
rights. Chakraborty’s account of her legal struggle highlights the alienation
and helplessness she felt as an immigrant mother confronting an unfamiliar
legal system.
In
Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, the film dramatizes this bureaucratic oppression by
portraying the protagonist’s encounters with cold, unfeeling officials who are
more interested in upholding institutional norms than understanding the
cultural nuances of the case. The film uses visual metaphors—such as the
sterile, impersonal settings of the courtroom and government offices—to
emphasize the dehumanizing nature of the legal process. Through its
dramatization of legal proceedings, the film critiques the rigid structures of
power that often disregard the emotional and cultural dimensions of maternal
struggle.
Resilience of Motherhood
and Feminist Resistance
At the
heart of both stories is how tough moms can be. Even when everything seems to
be against them, Chakraborty and the main character in Mrs. Chatterjee vs
Norway show incredible grit as they fight to retain custody of their kids. This
resilience is framed within a broader feminist critique of patriarchal
institutions that seek to undermine maternal agency.
In The
Journey of a Mother, Chakraborty's resilience comes across as a personal quest
to discover herself and gain power. Her struggle for her kids turns into a
battle for her identity as a mom, and her determination to get back her
maternal rights serves as a form of resistance against the patriarchal
structures that sought to take them away. The memoir portrays Chakraborty’s
resilience as a form of feminist resistance, emphasizing the ways in which she
challenged the authority of the legal system and asserted her agency as a
mother.
Similarly,
Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway portrays the protagonist’s resilience as a form of
resistance against patriarchal authority. The cinematic narrative strengthens
this idea through its use of visual and storytelling methods. For example, it
uses close-up shots of the protagonist's facial expression during emotional
moments, which emphasize her inner strength and resolution. The movie's
depiction of the central character's court fight serves as a strong critique of
the ways in which patriarchal institutions seek to control and undermine
maternal agency.
Cinematic Adaptation and
Ethical Complexities
Adapting
real-life trauma into cinematic narratives raises important ethical questions,
particularly when it comes to representing personal pain and suffering for a
broader audience. Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway takes Chakraborty’s personal story
and transforms it into a cinematic drama, using visual storytelling to heighten
the emotional stakes and create a more universally resonant narrative. However,
this process of adaptation inevitably involves certain creative liberties,
which raises questions about the ethics of dramatizing real-life trauma.
In
adapting The Journey of a Mother into a film, the filmmakers had to balance the
need to remain faithful to Chakraborty’s story with the demands of cinematic
storytelling. The movie plays up certain parts of the story—like the emotional
rollercoaster of the court fight—to make a more gripping and interesting plot.
While this makes the film more accessible to a global audience, it also raises
ethical concerns about the potential for sensationalizing real-life trauma for
entertainment purposes.
At
the same time, the film adaptation has an important social role by bringing
attention to issues of maternal struggle, cultural displacement, and
bureaucratic oppression. Through cinema, the writer's story can be conveyed to
those audiences also who do not read books. By transforming Chakraborty’s
personal story into a motion picture, Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway has the
potential to reach a wider audience and raise awareness about the challenges
faced by immigrant mothers in foreign legal systems. And truly, Chakraborty's
story has been appreciated by a wide audience and her bravery and patience has
also been praised. In this sense, the film plays a crucial role in shaping
public perceptions of motherhood, migration, and justice.
The Role of the Legal System in Patriarchal
Control of Motherhood
The
intersection of motherhood and the legal system is a recurring theme in both
The Journey of a Mother and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway. The narratives
underscore how legal institutions often reflect and perpetuate patriarchal structures
by undermining maternal authority and reducing women’s roles to that of
caretakers subject to state scrutiny. This type of legal system is not fair at
all, but still the government there has promoted it. Both these works frame the
legal system as an impersonal force that tends to disregard the emotional and
cultural complexities of motherhood.
Sociologists
and legal scholars have long debated the impact of Western-centric legal
frameworks on immigrant families. Despite this, the government there was not
amending its law for the migrant families. The Norwegian Child Welfare
Services, depicted in both the book and the movie, are illustrative of the
disconnect between legal structures and the lived experiences of culturally
diverse families. In The Journey of a Mother, Chakraborty describes how her
Indian parenting methods, which are deeply rooted in cultural and familial
practices, were viewed with suspicion and disdain by the Norwegian authorities.
She was very much troubled by the strange legal system there that how can a
government decide whether a woman is able to take proper care of her children
or not. Particularly in western countries, this legal alienation reflects a
broader global trend where legal systems impose normative standards of parenting
that marginalize non-Western cultural practices.
Feminist
legal theory sees the actions of Barnevernet as a way patriarchy extends its
control over women's reproductive rights and their ability to mother. Feminist
scholars like Catharine MacKinnon have also argued that legal institutions,
particularly in family law, are often structured in ways that perpetuate
male-dominated control over women’s bodies and their children. Chakraborty’s
experience can thus be seen as emblematic of how patriarchal systems weaponize
legal mechanisms to police and control maternal bodies, especially those that
deviate from the Western norm.
In
Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, this patriarchal control is made visually explicit
through the depiction of the courtroom scenes, where the protagonist’s
emotional outbursts are seen as evidence of her supposed instability. The film
emphasizes how legal narratives about mothers often reduce them to either
“good” or “bad” based on a narrow set of criteria, neglecting the emotional and
cultural contexts that shape maternal behavior. By positioning the
protagonist’s motherhood against an unforgiving legal backdrop, the film
critiques the reduction of maternal identity to legal labels and bureaucratic
norms, resonating with broader feminist concerns about the regulation of
motherhood.
Cultural Imperialism and the Imposition of
Western Norms
The
main concern in both The Journey of a Mother and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway is
how Western standards are forced on immigrant families. Cultural imperialism, as
theorized by postcolonial scholars like Edward Said, refers to the ways in
which Western societies impose their cultural values on others, sidelining and
treating non-Western practices as abnormal. In the case of Chakraborty, the
Norwegian authorities’ misinterpretation of her Indian parenting methods
reveals the dangers of cultural imperialism within state institutions.
The
memoir explores the deep sense of alienation that Chakraborty felt as a mother
whose parenting style was deemed inferior and inappropriate by Western
standards. This experience reflects broader tensions faced by immigrant
families in Western countries, where child-rearing practices that deviate from
the Western norm are often stigmatized and viewed with suspicion. The
imposition of Western parenting norms, as evidenced by Chakraborty’s struggle
with Barnevernet, can be seen as a form of cultural imperialism that seeks to
homogenize diverse cultural practices under the guise of child welfare.
Mrs.
Chatterjee vs Norway visualizes this tension through scenes that juxtapose the
protagonist’s Indian cultural practices with the cold, impersonal environment
of the Norwegian legal system. The film uses visual symbolism to highlight the
contrast between the warmth and intimacy of the protagonist’s Indian household
and the sterile, bureaucratic spaces of the Norwegian institutions. In doing
so, the film critiques the ways in which Western legal systems fail to
accommodate cultural diversity, imposing instead a one-size-fits-all approach
to parenting and family life.
Moreover,
the film’s portrayal of the protagonist’s isolation in Norway serves as a
critique of the broader dynamics of migration and cultural displacement. The
writer's pain and emotions have been expressed even better through the film,
which looks absolutely alive on screen. Immigrant mothers, in particular, are
often subject to heightened scrutiny by both state institutions and society,
with their cultural practices frequently viewed as incompatible with Western
norms. More or less the situation of every migrant woman was similar. By
emphasizing the protagonist’s cultural alienation, Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway
sheds light on the broader struggles faced by immigrant mothers in asserting
their maternal identity in foreign lands.
The Emotional and Psychological Toll of
Maternal Struggle
Both
the book The Journey of a Mother and its film version Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway
provide in-depth explorations of the emotional and psychological toll of
maternal struggle. In her memoir, Chakraborty describes the intense emotional
pain she felt as she fought to reunite with her children. The narrative
highlights the ways in which maternal suffering is compounded by cultural
displacement and bureaucratic indifference, creating a sense of helplessness and
despair that permeates the text.
The
emotional intensity of maternal struggle is further amplified in the film,
which uses cinematic techniques such as close-ups, slow motion, and dramatic
music to convey the protagonist’s inner turmoil. Long shots also play an
important part as they provide a wide and full view of the characters and their
surroundings, which also shows the emotional connection between the protagonist
and his surroundings. One of the most emotional parts of the movie is when
there is emotional breakdown of the protagonist right in front of the court,
her distress laid bare as she begs to get her kids back. The use of such
emotional imagery in the film serves to humanize the protagonist’s struggle,
allowing the audience to connect with her pain on a visceral level. Cinemas can
express such emotions so well and when sentimental music is added to these
scenes, they seem even more effective.
From
a psychological perspective, the narratives also engage with concepts of trauma
and resilience. Chakraborty’s memoir can be read as a trauma narrative, in
which the author relives her painful experiences in order to make sense of them
and reclaim her agency. Trauma theorists such as Judith Herman have emphasized
the importance of narrative in the recovery process, arguing that the act of
storytelling allows survivors to regain a sense of control over their
experiences. In The Journey of a Mother, Chakraborty’s act of writing becomes a
means of healing, allowing her to process the trauma of her separation from her
children and assert her identity as a mother.
In
the film, this process of reclaiming agency is dramatized through the
protagonist’s legal battle, which becomes a metaphor for her emotional and
psychological journey. As the protagonist fights to regain custody of her
children, she also reclaims her sense of self as a mother, challenging the
legal and cultural forces that sought to diminish her maternal authority. The
film’s portrayal of this journey highlights the resilience of motherhood in the
face of overwhelming odds, offering a powerful commentary on the strength and
determination of mothers in the face of systemic injustice.
Feminist Perspectives on
Maternal Agency
The
feminist aspects of The Journey of a Mother and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway play
a crucial role in showing how these stories present a mother's struggle as a
form of pushback. Both works fit into a wider feminist conversation that aims
to question patriarchal systems and support the empowerment of mothers. By
portraying the protagonist’s fight for her children as a struggle for maternal
agency, these narratives engage with feminist critiques of the ways in which
motherhood is regulated and controlled by state institutions.
One
of the central concerns of feminist theory is the idea that women’s bodies and
reproductive rights are often subject to state control. In the context of
family law, this control manifests in the ways in which legal systems regulate
motherhood, often imposing patriarchal norms on women’s reproductive and caregiving
practices. Chakraborty’s battle with the Norwegian Child Welfare Services can
be seen as a feminist struggle against the state’s attempt to control her
maternal identity. By resisting the legal system’s efforts to define her as an
unfit mother, Chakraborty asserts her agency as a mother and challenges the
patriarchal structures that sought to undermine her.
In
Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, this feminist critique is visually represented
through the protagonist’s transformation from a passive victim to an active
agent of change. The film highlights how she gains strength as she takes charge
of her court case, defying the legal and cultural forces that sought to oppress
her. The film’s portrayal of maternal resilience and empowerment serves as a
feminist statement about the capacity of mothers to resist patriarchal systems
and assert their agency in the face of adversity.
Feminist
theorists like Adrienne Rich have argued that motherhood is both a site of
oppression and a potential source of empowerment. In Of Woman Born, Rich
describes how patriarchal societies often seek to control women’s reproductive
labor while simultaneously devaluing the work of mothering. In both The Journey
of a Mother and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, motherhood is portrayed as a site of
both vulnerability and strength. It is absolutely true that a mother's biggest
strength and biggest weakness are her children. The protagonists are initially
oppressed by the legal system, which seeks to strip them of their maternal
rights, but through their resistance, they reclaim their power as mothers and
challenge the patriarchal forces that sought to control them.
Conclusion: The Global Relevance of Maternal
Struggle
When
looking at The Journey of a Mother and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, this paper
has examined the ways in which these narratives represent maternal struggle as
a form of resistance against cultural dominance, bureaucratic oppression, and
patriarchal control. The book and the movie both criticize how laws and
government bodies regulate motherhood often taking away mother's ability to
make choices.
Through
their portrayal of a mother’s fight to retain custody of her children, these
narratives shed light on the global relevance of maternal struggle,
particularly in the context of migration and cultural displacement. Immigrant
mothers, like Sagarika Chakraborty and the protagonist Rani Mukerji in Mrs.
Chatterjee vs Norway, face unique challenges as they try to navigate foreign
legal systems that may be unsympathetic to their cultural practices. All these
difficulties have been shown brilliantly through both the book and the film. By
highlighting these struggles, both the film and the book contribute to a
broader understanding of the ways in which state institutions and patriarchal
structures seek to control and regulate maternal bodies.
Moreover,
looking at these two works we can clearly examine the importance of cinema and
literature in shaping views of the public regarding motherhood, migration, and
justice. While considering the emotional and legal challenges that immigrant
women must endure, these two narratives make a potent statement about
motherhood and the fight against oppression. Any story can be presented in a
much better and livelier manner through cinema. Just like the author Sagarika
Chakraborty has expressed her pain and struggle through her book, similarly
Aasima Chibber has also depicted Chakraborty's pain, her suffering and her long
legal struggle through cinema in a very touching and excellent manner. Finally,
The Journey of a Mother and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway serve as important
cultural texts that challenge dominant narratives about motherhood and advocate
for the empowerment of mothers in the face of adversity.
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