Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #549 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-03-10
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 98 minutes

Amazon.co.uk

Brick Lane, adapted from Monica Ali’s much-lauded novel, is the compelling and thought-provoking story of a Bangladeshi woman, Nazneen Ahmed, who is forced into an arranged marriage as a teenager. Separated from her beloved sister and sent to live with her husband in a run-down housing estate in east London, Nazneen’s carefree childhood seems far away. She has two children with her obese fantasist of a husband and the daily grind of housekeeping becomes increasingly difficult to tolerate when the family are harassed by an elderly money-lender.

The demure Nazneen sees the potential for some independence in making jeans for dashing market stallholder, Karim. Gradually the two become embroiled in each other’s affections and Nazneen has to decide where the best balance between duty and happiness lies.

The novel, short-listed for the Man Booker Prize, makes an effortless transition to the screen in this well-handled adaptation from director Sarah Gavron. Tannishtha Chatterjee (Nazneen) offers a confident and articulate performance and other leads are skilled in expressing the characters’ multi-faceted layers. --Vivienne Arkley

Special Features
A Conversation with Monica Ali and Hanif Kureishi at the ICA

Exploring Brick Lane

Interview with Sarah Gavron

Interview with Tannishtha Chatterjee and Christopher Simpson

Interview with Satish Kaushik

Theatrical Trailer

Commentary by Sarah Gavron (Director) and Chris Collins (Producer)

Scene Specific commentaries

Synopsis
Monica Ali's best-selling novel comes to the screen in this faithful adaptation, directed by Sarah Gavron, making her feature film debut. Set in the 1980s, BRICK LANE follows the trials and tribulations of a beautiful young Bangladeshi woman—Nazeen--as she arrives in London's East End for an arranged marriage. As time passes by, Nazeen realises she is trapped in a loveless marriage and is soon drawn to another man...

Customer Reviews

Slightly disappointed
Having read and enjoyed the book, I was slightly disappointed in that I felt the treatment was too downbeat, particularly when we are introduced to the London setting. I also felt that some distinctions were too sharply drawn. Yes, past life on the sub-continent should be portrayed as idyllic, but the husband came across as "too wrong" (even though, if my arm were twisted, I would choose his as the best performance). Where were the nuances (like seeing Torville and Dean on TV and being excited by the shortness of attire)? I feel like I need to read the novel again, to see if I was mistaken (good move, in any case). Reviewers have commented generically on the acting, but I would commend the two children as well as the adults; and a word about the excellent ethnic theme and background music.

Cheating Bangladeshi Wife
"Brick Lane" is a quality drama set in a Bangladeshi community in a council estate in East London. An attractive but submissive wife lives with her overweight, iconoclastic husband and her two daughters and reminisces about happier days in Bangladesh before having an affair with a dashing young Muslim militant for whom she makes clothes alterations as a means of supplementing the family income. After longing to return to Bangladesh and be reunited with her beloved sister, she comes to appreciate the qualities of her humble London home and becomes reluctant to join her husband on the plane back to Dhakar."Brick Lane" is well acted and filmed and is an entertaining and often absorbing tale of life among immigrant folk.

FANTASTIC FILM.....A MUST WATCH
Really..really...really fantastic film. It shows how many women from Pakistan and Bangladesh living in the UK were promised of manythings, but in reality under the Pakistani & Bangladeshi culture they face very hard life under married life.

Its a great film, you must buy it and watch it, it will open your eyes and bring the truth home.