Brick Lane Details

[Highly rated reviewer]

A decent British film.

A teenage Bangladeshi girl has to enter an arranged marriage with a man she has never me, who lives in England, a country she has never seen.

Fast forward to some nearly 20 years or so later and, although she now has two teenage girls, she has really led a very sheltered life. However, a turn of events mean she decides to start earning some money, becomes involved with a much younger man, sees how many of her fellow Muslims react after the 9/11 atrocity and, as she becomes more independent herself, realises what true love can be.

The fact that this film works pretty well, without seeming too trite or sickly sweet is down to a good director and an excellent performance by the cast.

I say, support the British film industry when it makes something worthwhile and this film is certainly worth supporting.

Note - I have not read the Monica Ali book upon which this film is based, so I cannot say whether those that have will be disappointed by what will certainly be a simplification of the book.

Not as good as the book

Not as good as the book- I'm sure you've heard it many times but never has it rang more true. The controversy surrounding the themes in the book got this film publicity. The film itself is not as controversial or as in depth as the book - after watching it I just thought why did the director bother? The film didn't bring anything new to the themes running through the book; the director has reduced the film to a picture book version of the story.