Cultural identity, family dynamics and the power of memory all play a part in this movie adaptation of the wonderful book by Monica Ali. Beautiful Tannishtha Chatterjee stars as Nazneen, a Bangladeshi woman who is married off at a young age to an older husband (Satish Kaushik) in East London. She leaves her beloved sister behind to begin life in a depressing flat where her routine consists of grocery shopping, removing her husband's coat as he returns from work and raising two daughters. Life picks up considerably when Nazneen meets Karim (Christopher Simpson), the handsome boy who picks up the sewing work she does on the side. There's an instant attraction between the almost housebound, traditional Nazneen and the westernized, politically active Karim. Their scenes together are thrilling and sensual as we see Nazneen's dazzling smile for the first time. Letters from her sister, who's living a more carefree life back in Bangladesh, also cheer her up and bring back the allure of her homeland. After the attacks on 9/11 a frightening racial and religious backlash against Muslims disturbs Nazneen's East London neighborhood, with Karim organizing a local resistance group.
Director Sarah Gavron does an excellent job of creating subtle, complicated portrayals and relationships. All of the delightful characters I remember from the book are here: Nazneen's rebellious, sarcastic older daughter Shahana (an excellent performance by Naeema Begum), the various neighbors who share the tenement-like building where Nazneen's family lives, even the East London neighborhood itself which is well captured right down to the family's stifling little apartment space. We're left uncertain of exactly where life will lead Nazneen, yet exhilarated by her brave, somewhat surprising choices.
Things to love about this movie: Remains very faithful to the book on which it's based; exquisite scenes of nature in India during Nazneem's childhood; satisfying ending; a touching, bittersweet segment where the family takes a day trip to London proper for viewing the changing of the guard and having a picnic in the park
Things to hate about this movie: I had a bit of trouble understanding some of the dialogue due to a combination of British and Indian accents
Pleasant surprises: The perfect casting of Satish Kaushik as Chanu, Nazneem's husband (exactly as I'd pictured him in the book and a wonderful performance)
Unpleasant surprises: Nazneen's younger daughter Bibi is little more than a cipher in the movie
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