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BRICK LANE
United Kingdom / English & Some Bengali with English Subtitles
Running Time: 102 min; Rated: PG-13
4 OUT OF 5 STARS
Reviewed by Denise Castillón

A Still Yet Moving Cinematic Journey Down BRICK LANE

An eloquent portrayal of the inner isolation of a Muslim woman living in foreign country delivered by one of India’s leading actresses, Tannishtha Chatterjee in BRICK LANE.

At 17, an arranged marriage to an older man, in faraway London, tears Nazneen (TANNISHTHA CHATTERJEE) away from her beloved home, Bangladesh, and adored younger sister, Hasina.

Now a dutiful wife and mother, Nazneen has made a home for her foolishly idealist husband, Chanu (SATISH KAUSHIK), and her two teen-aged daughters, in East London’s multi-cultural neighborhood known as Brick Lane.

Long-term plans for the whole family’s eventual return to Bangladesh are jeopardized, when her husband quits his job to protest his pass over for a promotion. This is particularly upsetting for Nazneen, who has been quietly and persistently suffering from homesickness. The long-distance letters she receives from her sister not only fueled her nostalgia, but, on reading about her sister’s romantic life, also has created a longing for the same experience of love.

Highly motivated to return to her homeland, Nazneen steps out of the shadows and starts a home business sewing mass-produced garments. The young, handsome Karim (CHRISTOPHER SIMPSON) delivers her weekly assignments. Slowly, with each visit, their attraction develops into a passionate love affair.

Then, two commercial airline planes hit the Twin Towers in New York City.

Directed by Sarah Gavron. Produced by Alison Owen and Christopher Collins. Executive Produced by Tessa Ross, Paula Jalfon, Duncan Reid and Paul Trijbits. Written by Abi Morgan and Laura Jones. Photography directed by Robbie Ryan. A Red Rudy Film Production. Released by Sony Classics.