Some Kind of Arrangement

Preety is the quintessential woman of the 90s: confident, independent and career-driven. But she's about to do something most of her contemporaries would never consider--the 20-something accountant is preparing to enter into an arranged marriage. Focusing on three second-generation South Asians--Preety, Hanif and Rajni--Some Kind of Arrangement is a smart, stylish and thoughtful examination of an age-old tradition in the midst of being adapted and transformed in North America. Engaging and refreshingly candid in their opinions, the three young people make it clear that arranged marriages aren't what they used to be. Nowadays, they involve negotiation, beginning with introductory phone calls and matrimonial classifieds in East Indian community newspapers, and continuing with long-distance trips, lengthy get-to-know-each-other sessions and the option of saying "no." For those who eventually say "yes" to an arranged marriage, the tradition represents a celebration of, and commitment to their Indian heritage. After her wedding, Preety is embarking on a new stage of life. As she says, it is a time for "getting to know the other person, and accepting whatever comes our way."