Brick Lane on DVD (2007)

4Tell [Highly rated reviewer] , 02/01/2008

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.

  28 out of 28 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Exeter , 17/03/2008

Having read the book, I also really enjoyed this film. As with most adaptations, the films rarely live up to the intensity of the novel but this is a fair attempt.

Beautifully shot in Bangladesh & London, the characaters crackle with warmth. The plot if you don't know it follows a young Indian woman as she gets packed off in an arranged marriage to a council flat in East London. What follows is the story of her struggling to adjust to a life of loneliness and alienation in a strange Western world and in a marriage seemingly devoid of love.

The film focuses on the main character's encounter with a young Asian Londoner, Karim, and the viewer sees the effect this has on her as well as following him growing up in a London city reacting to 9/11 and in a wave of anti-Islam.

The book in comparison explores more of the lead character's inner struggle and key moments like her secretly trying on some westen women's clothes are slightly brushed over in the film in favour of the potential romance.

This is no action or blockbuster film - but a simple, well made and acted drama in which you will find the characters evolving - even her seemingly ignorant and cold husband eventually thaws and displays depth and warmth - and will leave you, like a reader of the novel, thinking about life in Britain today from an immigrant's point of view.

If you like a good old fashioned story, I would recommend it. And the book is great too!!

  16 out of 16 people found this review helpful

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Chistery from London , 05/07/2008

The start of the DVD has too many ads and the menu button is disabled. I think we should boycott DVDs that do this, I pay to rent a film, not be forced to watch ads.

  13 out of 13 people found this review helpful

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malsi from whitley bay , 19/02/2008

this movie is brill ull love it!

  13 out of 14 people found this review helpful

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A customer from London , 20/08/2008

I loved the book, but thought the film was slow and boring, and I felt no empathy for the main character, she was just dull. I didn't even watch it all the way through.

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jflicks from Knutsford , 17/08/2008

it isnt a wow type of film by any means however through out it gave me a sense of overwhelming sense of gratitude for the life i live.This one main character has been spun through so many tradgidies and yet at the end , life begins to take a turn for the best.It was certianly a run through a variety of emotions leaving the viewer a little drained but satisfied with the outcome.With a slow easy pace this may not be everyones cup of tea and the subject matter was a little lame however it did leave me pondering over arranged marriages.Not sure i would recommend this........ but happy to have watched it..

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