Rama’s SCREEN

I’m not sure how this movie flew under my radar, it was around a long time ago but only recently captured my attention. BRICK LANE is nothing original, I’ve seen other movies that deal with cultural, religious conflicts and issues but what makes this movie remarkable is… Director Sarah Gavron’s vision to bring the book, which I’ve never read, to the big screen. BRICK LANE sends out a strong human, powerful message without having to tell you more than what we already know but we tend to ignore.

A Bangladeshi girl is forced by tradition to leave her village and her sister to go marry somebody who lived abroad. She left with an intention that someday she would return to her sister. Years later, she lives in London with her strict, old-fashion husband who doesn’t have a certain profession, and her two daughters who know that she’s not happy with her life. A radical young man arrives in the neighborhood, tempts her to engage in an affair.

I think some may view this as a depressing movie, but the rest of us who know what it is to be immigrants and struggle day in and day out to put food on the table and shelter over our heads would appreciate the intimate portrayal.
The movie does an excellent job with the technical aspects, it takes us to this small neighborhood of Bangladesh residents in the middle of London in a world that’s changing due to internet and the Sept 11 tragedy.

Props to the production design, the art direction and the costume. You can see how two worlds look so far apart from each other. I like how the movie seams the flashbacks and the vision of the main character’s sister who would visit from time to time. The way it’s done is subtle and gives out that poetic feel to it.
The letters and the narration are crucial in keeping us aligned with the timeline.

Like I said, I’ve never read the book that this movie’s based on so I can’t really say that I’ve visualized the characters as something different but I think the actors chosen are perfect in their roles.
The main star, Tannishtha Chatterjee is a revelation. I hope this won’t be the last I see her on the big screen.
I appreciate how the filmmaker the sexuality part of the movie in an artsy, tasteful manner by focusing on the lighting, the color, the movement of the main’s character’s dress.

Last but not least. The message of this movie is what makes it powerful. Most people believe in love that’s in a form of that ‘lightning strike’, ‘at first sight’ sort of thing… which is cool and all but there is a kind of love where it grows in you after a while. The Love that doesn’t reveal itself at first because of tradition and culture but it’s always there and reliable. The love that is often misunderstood and seen as anything but.
But I’m glad that we live in a time where women can speak their minds and they should be empowered.

* Place the cursor on the image below to check my grade for this film