Berlo's Father In My Big Fat Greek Wedding

During most of the film, Toula’s father has a specific, ethnocentric attitude towards Ian. This stems from the Greek’s cultural importance of traditions, gender roles and different cultural values. On the other hand, Ian has a more ethno relative attitude because he wants to be accepted by Toula’s family.
In the movie, there is a high value placed on economic flexibility and being one’s own boss. In the Greek culture families are fundamental units; they provide support and identity and marriage is considered the normal condition of adulthood. A good example of the strong Greek culture in the movie is the scene where Toula’s father, Gus is driving his daughter and her friends to school. Mr. Protokalos is explaining how all words have Greek roots. Even when taunted with a foreign word,

Considering that Toula went to an American school and then graduated an American college it can be considered that the message in this movie comes from the American education. This movie was not made to praise Greek culture, or to show how immigrants in America are able to keep their culture, without it being assimilated. From the beginning of the movie, Toula stressed that she does not want to do what her culture suggested “marry a good Greek man, have lots of Greek children and cook for the whole family.” This statement together with her feeling awkward in her Greek language classes suggest that the message which the movie and Toula sends is that of a desire of assimilation. During the scenes of her early childhood, she looks out of place among the American girls, stressing not only her cultural difference, but also her physical differences as well. Her way to communicate to her family is first gong to an American college, second leaving her work at the family restaurant, although her new job is at her aunt’s travel agency, and third marring a typical, all American