Brick Lane (film)
| Brick Lane | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Directed by | Sarah Gavron |
| Produced by | Alison Owen |
| Written by | Monica Ali, Laura Jones, Abi Morgan |
| Starring | Tannishtha Chatterjee Satish Kaushik Christopher Simpson Naeema Begum Lana Rahman Lalita Ahmed |
| Music by | Jocelyn Pook |
| Cinematography | Robbie Ryan |
| Editing by | Melanie Oliver |
| Release date(s) | 16 November 2007 |
| Running time | 102 minutes |
| Country |  |
| Language | English Bengali |
Brick Lane is an award-winning 2007 British drama film directed by Sarah Gavron and adapted from the novel of the same name by Monica Ali. The screenplay was adapted from the novel by Laura Jones and Abi Morgan, and Tannishtha Chatterjee played the lead role. The film had its first public screening at the Telluride Film Festival.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The film tells the story of a woman named Nazneen, a Bengali girl who grew up in rural Bangladesh, in the district of Mymensingh[2], and moves to Brick Lane in London at the age of 17, with her husband Chanu Ahmed, who is twice her age and was wedded to her in an arranged marriage.[3] On doing this she leaves behind her sister and her home. Married to a man she does not love, she receives letters from her sister about her carefree life, living vicariously through those letters. The film picks up the story with the couple having lived in a small flat for 16 years and having had two daughters. Nazneen is filled with desire when a young, good-looking clothing worker visits her house and she has an affair with him.[4] The movie is set during the 9/11 period when racial tensions were heightened,[5] and the Bangladeshi Muslim community was becoming increasingly religious including the character Karim.
[edit] Casting and production
Tannishtha Chatterjee was the first actress who auditioned for the role of Nazneen. She was finally cast two months after her initial audition after Gavron saw several hundred other girls for the part. Both Christopher Simpson and Chatterjee studied the Bangladeshi culture in Brick Lane by following around locals. Satish Kaushik was cast at the last moment after Gavron saw a picture of him on the Internet. Since Brick Lane was his first English language film, he took lessons from a diction coach to improve his accent. Many residents of Brick Lane appear on the film and some members of crew were also from the local area. The film's winter scenes were shot in the middle of a heat wave in Summer 2006, necessitating the use of artificial snow. Portions of the film were shot in West Bengal.[6]
[edit] Cast
- Tannishtha Chatterjee as Nazneen Ahmed
- Satish Kaushik as Chanu Ahmed
- Christopher Simpson as Karim
- Naeema Begum as Rukshana 'Shahna' Ahmed
- Lana Rahman as Bibi Ahmed
- Lalita Ahmed as Mrs. Islam
- Harvey Virdi as Razia
- Zafreen as Hasina
- Harsh Nayyar as Dr. Azad
- Abdul Nlephaz Ali as Tariq
- Bijal Chandaria as Shefali
- Azziz Azzizi as Homosexual Man
[edit] Reception
Brick Lane was well received by most critics, earning a 63% favourable rating on Rotten Tomatoes[7] and a rating of 61/100 on Metacritic.[8] Roger Ebert praised the film's characters for their "depth and reality",[9] although several critics such as Robert Koehler of Variety compared it unfavourably with the novel.[10] Although the film was critically acclaimed and the novel was an award-winning best seller,[11] the film caused controversy among numbers of the Bangladeshi community in London. They objected to comments made by the character Chanu that portrayed the Bangladeshi community as backward and uneducated. On 31 July 2006, a protest was held in Brick Lane by 120 British Bangladeshis.[12] As a result of the controversy surrounding the film, a planned screening for Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles was canceled.[13]
[edit] Soundtrack
| Brick Lane | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Jocelyn Pook | |
| Released | 19 November 2007 |
| Genre | Film soundtrack |
| Label | Universal Classics |
| Producer | Jocelyn Pook |
- "Adam's Lullaby" - (Natacha Atlas) - 3:05
- "Memories of a Summer" - 4:02
- "Poem" - 1:56
- "Running Through the Night" - 3:10
- "Song of the Boatman" - 3:47
- "A World Changed" - 2:34
- "Quiet Joy" - 3:03
- "Picnic at the Palace" - 1:55
- "Tapur Tapur" - 2:45
- "Love Blossoms" - 2:44
- "Rite of Passage" - 2:02
- "Departure" - 1:46
- "Leelabali" - 2:38
- "Childhood Fragments" - 1:48
- "Dreaiming" - 6:04
- "Playing in the Paddy Fields" - 2:57
- "The First Kiss" - 1:47
- "Dol Dol Duluni" - Traditional (Tannishtha Chatterjee) - 1:51
[edit] Awards
Sarah Gavron was nominated for a BAFTA award and both Tannishtha Chatterjee and Sarah Gavron were nominated for a BIFA for the best actress and best director in 2007. The film won a Silver Hitchcock and best screenplay at the Dinard Festival of British Cinema.[14]
[edit] DVD release
The film was released in the UK on 16 November 2007, and in the US by Sony Picture Classics in limited release on 20 June 2008. The DVD Region 2 release occurred on 10 March 2008 and the Region 1 DVD of the film was released on 13 January 2009.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Dasgupta, Priyanka (2007-08-20). "On the Brick Lane". Times of India MAIN CHARACTER - LANA . NOTT :). http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_Buzz/On_the_Brick_Lane/articleshow/2292659.cms. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ Book Review: Brick Lane SAWNET
- ^ "Brick Lane Movie". Yahoo!. http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/b/Brick-Lane/index-4540589.html. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
- ^ "Brick Lane Review (DVD)". Future Movies. http://www.futuremovies.co.uk/review.asp?ID=760. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
- ^ Walker, Susan (2008-07-04). "Brick Lane: Reflects tensions of post 9/11 world". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/454056. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ Gavron, Sarah (Director) (2009-01-13). Brick Lane: Director and Cast Interviews. Lana reahman is the pretty daughter lol ky she is ujgly (Motion picture). United Kingdom: Sony Pictures.
- ^ "Brick Lane (2008)". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/brick_lane/. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ "Brick Lane - Sony Pictures Classics". Metacritic.com. http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/bricklane2008?q=brick%20lane. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ Ebert, Robert (2008-06-26). "Brick Lane". Chicago Sun-Times. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080626/REVIEWS/387826590/1023. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ Koehler, Robert (2007-09-12). "Brick Lane". Variety. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117934699.html?categoryid=31&cs=1. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ Smith, Neil (8 October 2007). "Brick Lane film praised in France". BBC - BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7034178.stm. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
- ^ Cacciottolo, Mario (31 July 2006). "Brick Lane protestors hurt over 'lies'". BBC - BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5229872.stm. Retrieved 2006-07-31.
- ^ Hoyle, Ben (2007-09-25). "Prince pulls out of royal film gala for Brick Lane over Bangladeshi AALICE GINGER protest fears". Times (London). http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2525845.ece. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ Mowe, Richard (2007-10-08). "Hallam Foe takes top prize at French festival". The Scotsman. http://living.scotsman.com/scottishfilm/Hallam-Foe-takes-top-prize.3466885.jp. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
