I read the novel by Monica Ali 1 year back and even then all
along visualised the book as a film. Now the cinematic version is
finally here and after watching it could not wait to share my
impressions on the forum.
Firstly, what caught me by surprise and a trifle unpleasant one at that
is the way the director has taken a lot of cinematic license in
chopping off large portions of the book to make this a 1.5 hour show.
The early part of the novel, the entire part of Nazneen growing up in
Bangladesh village, the stories around her birth, the marriage part etc
has been dealt with hastily and within 5 minutes of the movie, she is a
young bride in England.
Her early years were what formed her temprament, her ideology and
desrved more footage. However once shes here, the movie picks up and
before you know it she is a middle aged mother of 2 teenage daughters.
She now resides in a block of East End flats with her
portly, caricaturish husband Chanu (Satish Kaushik) and their two
precocious daughters, 14-year-old Shahana (Naeema Begum) and
10-year-old Bibi (Lana Rahman).
Her husband dreams of "fitting in" and quotes Thakarey and Proust at
the drop of a hat. He is learned but out of work and this becomes the
turning point when craving for a bit of independence as also to keep
the home fires burning, Nazneen persuades Chanu to let
her start sewing for a local businessman, and thus Karim (Sampson)
comes into her life. Karim is everything that Chanu is not; hot-headed,
fit, sexy, oddly compassionate and, above all, Nazneen’s age, and the
two have an affair that forces Nazneen to begin the process of self
discovery. In the aftermath of 9/11, and against a background of
increasing racial tension, she finally makes a choice.
PLuses/MInuses
Definitely has to be the subtle and strong portrayal of Nazneen by
Tannishta Chatterjee. An average looker, she infuses so much warmth and
understanding in a difficult and complex role. IN the beginning she is very internalized and wary. Chanu is the
dominating and boisterous partener but she slowly blossoms under Karim’s undying
love and desire. Her attire, her hair, her confidence all subtly
reflect the change of graph of her character.
Her marriage with Chanu is strange, a marriage of complete opposites
but its based on mutual suitability.Chanu could have been painted as
the villain in the piece but it is Monica Ali’s clever writing and
Satish Kaushik’s masterly performance. He seems out of place at first
in the cramped British household arguing with his clearly british
daughters but soon gains command over the narrative and stays behind in
memory as the intelligent, loud but devoted husband who wanted nothing
more than to be a "big man" in a foreign country, a deep seated dream
of a villager seeking fortune in a foreign shore.
Sadly his wish is never realised and for me he becomes the most ironic and poignant character in the set up.
The setting remains cramped and small scale, maybe justifying the title
and scope of the novel and the title. But the treatment also remains
minimal since as 9/11 aftermath, many other racial isues could have
been examined but are done superfulously, limited to some meetings of
militant group that Kasim is a part of.
Another minus is the slow pacing of the movie. The first few reels are
abrupt (too much happens/too many years pass) and then its one humdrum
day after the other unfolding. But the mood and atmosphere of a dark
and closed minded lifestyle is aptly brought out.
Its the quest of one woman to find her place in the world-her
sexuality, her independence, her skills. her decision making capacity.
All of this we can see but sad to say some tthings have been glossed
over like the confrontation b/w Chanu and his wife never happens when
he discovers her affair.
For those who have not read the book, the ending might come as a
surprise. The camerawork is worth a mention and especially memorable is
the last shot. The film is worth a view definitely. The readers of the
book will not like to miss this one as it lovingly recreates the
ambience and characters that are so vivid and realistic.
May also like to chk out my review on the book - https://mouthshut.com/review/Brick_Lane_-_Monica_Ali-122302-1.html