Storyline
A couple deals with their cultural differences as their relationship grows.
Writers: Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani, Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Anupam Kher, Zenobia Shroff, Adeel Akhtar, Bo Burnham, Aidy Bryant, Kurt Braunohler, Vella Lovell, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Jeremy Shamos, David Alan Grier, Ed Herbstman, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Cast: Kumail Nanjiani -
Kumail
Zoe Kazan -
Emily
Holly Hunter -
Beth
Ray Romano -
Terry
Anupam Kher -
Azmat
Zenobia Shroff -
Sharmeen
Adeel Akhtar -
Naveed
Bo Burnham -
CJ
Aidy Bryant -
Mary
Kurt Braunohler -
Chris
Vella Lovell -
Khadija
Myra Lucretia Taylor -
Nurse Judy
Jeremy Shamos -
Bob Dalavan
David Alan Grier -
Andy Dodd
Ed Herbstman -
Sam Highsmith
Trivia:
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it was highly well received. Which started a bidding war for the distribution rights between Sony, Focus Features, Amazon, & Netflix. Co-creator of the film, Kumail Nanjiani wanted the film to have theatrical distribution which eliminated Netflix from the bidding war because they're not a proponent in that distribution model. The film's distribution rights were eventually bought for around $12 million by Amazon who is a big proponent of the theatrical experience, with all of its films getting at least some kind of theatrical run. The $12 million dollar deal is one of the largest deals in Sundance's history. See more »
User Review
Author:
Rating: 9/10
The Big Sick was very warmly-received at Austin's SXSW Film Festival.
The Big Sick is a superbly original romantic comedy/drama based on a
true story of Kumail Nanjiani and his now-wife Emily Gardner; they
co-wrote the script together. Kumail stars as himself. It starts from
the premise of the inherent difficulties of interracial,
inter-religious relationship between a Pakistani- American comedian and
white woman in Chicago who face both the normal difficulties of
relationships combined with the pressures of Kumail's overbearing, but
loving family who demand that he participate in an arranged marriage to
a Pakistani girl. Kumail is caught between competing worlds. The
situation spins out-of-control when Emily becomes extremely ill and
Kumail has to deal with her parents.
The amazing part of this movie is that it deals with deeply serious
complex issues, but does so with humor and grace. The screenplay is
remarkable and nuanced, but is infused with a comedian's sense of humor
that captures the real human comedy that exists in all personal
relationships. You will die laughing when Emily's bewildered father
turns to Kumail in a hospital cafeteria and asks him, "What do you
think of 9/11?" and Kumail responds as a comedian should to such an
outrageously stupid question. Ray Romano and Holly Hunter are excellent
in the roles of Emily's parents.
While based on a true story, I'm sure parts have been fictionalized to
bring the drama and the humor of the events to the screen, but it
appears that the basic Romeo & Juliet premise is based on the screen
writers' real relationship. The film's ability to balance the deadly
serious and the comedic reminds me of the wonderful film 50/50 (2011)
which also dealt with a deadly illness with a similar light touch. This
beautiful film which deals so well with the complexities of overcoming
cultural differences serves as a good anecdote to our charged political
climate and especially with the demonization of Islam that has become
all too dangerous in this country. I hope it is the breakout comedy hit
of the summer when it goes into wide release in July.
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