Brick Lane (2007 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Sarah Gavron (director) |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Film adaptation of novel by Monica Ali |
Brick Lane is a British drama film released in 2007, marking the directorial debut of Sarah Gavron. It is an adaptation of the 2003 novel authored by British writer Monica Ali. The screenplay was crafted by Laura Jones alongside Abi Morgan. Indian actress Tannishtha Chatterjee portrayed the central character, Nazneen. The film had its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in the United States.
Plot
The story is primarily set in London in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, capturing the intensified racial tensions experienced within Britain during that period.
Nazneen, originally from rural Bangladesh, enters into marriage with Chanu, a middle-aged educated man residing in London. She leaves her family behind to settle in a modest flat on Brick Lane, a neighborhood known as the core of the British Bengali community, where she raises two daughters. Despite facing difficulties and an emotionally distant marriage, Nazneen remains compliant for the well-being of her family.
Following his failure to secure a promotion, Chanu quits his employment. Meanwhile, Nazneen begins to earn money by repairing jeans using a sewing machine borrowed from a neighbor. She encounters Karim, a young clothing delivery worker, and they initiate an affair amid a growingly devout Bangladeshi Muslim environment.
Financial strain worsens when Chanu takes a loan from a moneylender. Nazneen participates in a Muslim "Unite" initiative called the Bengal Tigers. She discovers that her sister has been involved in prostitution, which deeply affects her emotionally. As conflicts escalate, Chanu plans to return to Bangladesh; however, their daughters oppose leaving London.
Karim discloses that he turned down another marriage proposal for Nazneen, but she declines his offer, expressing that she is "no longer the girl from the village." Nazneen confronts the loan shark and refuses to continue payments. After her eldest daughter disappears during a festival, Nazneen and Chanu discuss their future together; Nazneen comes to understand that her true home is where her children find happiness. Chanu opts to depart first, with the rest of the family intending to follow later.
Casting and production
Tannishtha Chatterjee was selected as Nazneen after being the initial actress to audition among hundreds reviewed by Gavron. Both Christopher Simpson (Karim) and Chatterjee immersed themselves in Bangladeshi culture on Brick Lane by observing local residents. Satish Kaushik, chosen after Gavron discovered his photograph online, took diction coaching for his debut English-speaking role.
Numerous Brick Lane inhabitants were cast as extras, and some members of the production crew were locals. Scenes depicting winter were filmed during an unusually hot summer in 2006, necessitating the use of artificial snow effects. Additional filming took place in West Bengal.
The film was produced by Ruby Films. Although Gavron initially intended to shoot on Brick Lane itself, concerns raised by local opposition and police warnings following protest threats forced relocation of filming.
The depiction of characters such as Chanu and portrayals of Sylheti culture generated criticism from parts of the British Bangladeshi community who viewed these representations negatively. On 31 July 2006, approximately 120 protesters demonstrated in Brick Lane. Conversely, other voices including British PEN and author Salman Rushdie expressed support for the project.
Cast
- Tannishtha Chatterjee portrays Nazneen Ahmed
- Satish Kaushik appears as Chanu Ahmed
- Christopher Simpson plays Karim
- Naeema Begum takes on the role of Rukshana 'Shahna' Ahmed
- Lana Rahman acts as Bibi Ahmed
- Lalita Ahmed features as Mrs. Islam
- Harvey Virdi is cast as Razia
- Zafreen performs as Hasina
- Harsh Nayyar plays Dr. Azad
- Abdul Nlephaz Ali appears as Tariq
- Bijal Chandaria portrays Shefali
Critical reception
The film Brick Lane was met with predominantly favorable critiques. It holds a 68% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 101 reviews, with an average score of 6.2 out of 10, receiving commendation for Chatterjee’s acting and Gavron’s direction despite criticisms regarding its deliberate pacing. On Metacritic, it achieved a score of 61%, reflecting "generally favorable reviews." Renowned critic Roger Ebert praised the film for its richly developed characters. However, some reviewers, including Robert Koehler from Variety, considered the adaptation less engaging than the original novel. The movie also attracted acclaim within French cinema circles.
A scheduled screening for Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall was cancelled following controversy and threats of protest.
Soundtrack
Composed and produced by Jocelyn Pook, the Brick Lane soundtrack was released by Universal Classics on 19 November 2007. The album includes 18 tracks featuring contributions from Natacha Atlas and Tannishtha Chatterjee, combining traditional motifs with modern sounds to enhance the film’s narrative.
Awards
Director Sarah Gavron earned a BAFTA nomination, while both Gavron and lead actress Tannishtha Chatterjee received nominations at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) in 2007 for best director and best actress respectively. Additionally, the film secured the Silver Hitchcock award and best screenplay honors at the Dinard Festival of British Cinema.
DVD release
Brick Lane premiered in the United Kingdom on 16 November 2007 and saw a limited release in the United States through Sony Pictures Classics on 20 June 2008. The DVD became available in Region 2 on 10 March 2008 and later in Region 1 on 13 January 2009.