D had won free tickets to the screening of Brick Lane at the Dendy Opera Quays last week. I had heard about the book sometime back but never read it. It was a sheer joy watching the movie last night.
Brick Lane was written by Monica Ali — born of English and Bangladeshi parents. She came to England aged three years and this was her first book which came out around 2003 highlighting the narrative of a Bangladeshi family living in the UK. Brick Lane was also nominated for the 2003 Booker Prize for Fiction and finally made into film in 2007.
Its set in multicultural Britain and is a modest journey of a seventeen year old girl Nazneen (Tannishtha Chatterjee) to find her self through the events of her life as she leaves Bangladesh to get married to a much older man living in UK leaving behind her sister and all her childhood memories and struggling to balance her life in London’s East End. The film was gripping and the characters candid and powerful. So much emotion packed in so few words it left me inspired not only in the story, but the cast and the very lucid storyline of life as it happens. Its a story of love, of power, cultural differences and truly the strength of human spirit.
Writing any more than this will be a scene spoiler I much rather you see it at the movies. It made my day and I think if you like films with substance this will make yours too.
Thanks, Amit. I’ll see it on your recommendation, hadn’t noticed that it was on.
Pam, it probably starts showing from next week, found a book review here on it.
I think you’ll enjoy it Pam. It’s beautifully filmed, and the acting is really superb. For a moment there I forget I was actually watching a “movie” as it was so real.
Amit,
Had heared about this sometime back. Will definately watch it now. On similar lines was ‘Namesake’ also based on a novel of same name.
cheers:)
True, we loved Namesake too. Another outstanding film portraying similar issues but in a slightly different way.
For those that may not watch the program on ABC called ‘At the movies‘ or live in Australia, ‘Brick Lane’ was reviewed by David and Margaret today. Here goes the link.