Plot
In the upper echelons of traditional Middle Eastern society, Reema and Omar prepare for the marriage of their daughter Tala...
Release Year: 2008
Rating: 6.2/10 (1,911 voted)
Director:
Shamim Sarif
Stars: Lisa Ray, Sheetal Sheth, Antonia Frering
Storyline In the upper echelons of traditional Middle Eastern society, Reema and Omar prepare for the marriage of their daughter Tala. But back at work in London, Tala encounters Leyla, a young British Indian woman who is dating Tala's best friend Ali. Tala sees something unique in the artless, clumsy, sensitive Leyla who secretly works to become a writer. And Tala's forthright challenges to Leyla's beliefs begins a journey of self-awareness for Leyla. As the women fall in love, Tala's own sense of duty and cultural restraint cause her to pull away from Leyla and fly back to Jordan where the preparations for an ostentatious wedding are well under way. As family members descend and the wedding day approaches, the pressure mounts until Tala finally cracks and extricates herself. Back in London, Leyla is heartbroken but learns to break free of her own self-doubt and her mother's expectations...
Writers: Shamim Sarif, Kelly Moss
Cast: Lisa Ray
-
Tala
Sheetal Sheth
-
Leyla
Antonia Frering
-
Reema
Dalip Tahil
-
Omar
Nina Wadia
-
Housekeeper
Ernest Ignatius
-
Sam
Siddiqua Akhtar
-
Maya
Amber Rose Revah
-
Yasmin
Anya Lahiri
-
Lamia
Kimberly Jaraj
-
Zina
Sam Vincenti
-
Kareem
Rez Kempton
-
Ali
Darwin Shaw
-
Hani
(as Daud Shah)
George Tardios
-
Uncle Ramzi
Ishwar Maharaj
-
Sami
Opening Weekend: $15,239
(USA)
(23 November 2008)
(3 Screens)
Gross: $39,373
(USA)
(13 September 2009)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
UK:
|
Germany:
(European Film Market)
Did You Know?
Trivia:
In the book pile on Leyla's desk, that her sister Yasmin notices while talking to Leyla, the book at the bottom is Writer/Director Shamim Sarif's novel "Despite the Falling Snow".
Goofs:
Continuity:
When Leyla and Tala are sitting on the stairs in the park both are wearing black shoes. In the next scene when they are walking through the park Tala's shoes are ocher.
Quotes: Yasmin:
They're in love. Ali:
Who? Yasmin:
Sonny and Cher.
[pause]
Yasmin:
Leyla and Tala.
User Review
A lighthearted movie with real substance
Rating: 9/10
I recently saw this movie screened at USC. Since I was going for extra
credit in a gender studies class, I expected it to be awful. I have to
say I was very pleasantly surprised. The only issue I had with it was
an awkward transition from Tala's engagement party to the first scene
with Leyla. Overall, the movie was very entertaining, with well
developed characters and plot, while at the same time dealing with the
issues lesbians face in different cultures in a very effective manner.
I strongly recommend this movie to anyone with an open mind and a sense
of humor.
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