Monsoon Wedding
Love story. The bride and groom discover they quite like each other...
SHADOWS MUST SEE MUST-SEE
dir Mira Nair
scr Sabrina Dhawan
with Naseeruddin Shah, Lillette Dubey, Vasundhara Das, Parvin Dabas, Shefali Shetty, Vijay Raaz, Tilotama Shome, Rajat Kapoor, Randeep Hooda, Neha Dubey, Ishaan Nair, Kemaya Kidwai
release UK 4.Jan.02
01/India 1h59

5 out of 5 stars
R E V I E W   B Y   R I C H   C L I N E
monsoon wedding One of the most effective and joyous examinations of family ever put on screen, this film is a delight from start to finish, even when it dips into serious issues. The Verma and Rai family are about to collide when Aditi (Das) is promised to marry Hemant (Dabas). They meet properly for the first time at their engagement party and only have a few days to get to know each other before the big wedding, for which family members have travelled to Delhi from both America and Australia. Aditi's mother and father (Dubey and Shah) have a lot to do--and their family and friends don't make things any easier for them!

The whole film bristles with energy as we get to know members of the extended family. This is a truly bilingual film--dialog slides back and forth between English and Hindi (with superior subtitles). And it captures the energy, colours and culture of these people remarkably, with powerfully honest performances all around. But even more effective is the way it examines family issues that are the same everywhere--little tensions, big secrets, profound loyalties and unexpected surprises. Director Nair and writer Shawan have filled every frame with little details, hilarious comedy and astonishing emotional resonance. There are at least three fabulous love stories in here and one very dark family drama, all blending seamlessly together ... with a few full-blown Bollywood musical numbers thrown in here and there just for fun. This is breathtakingly good filmmaking--thoroughly entertaining, deeply moving, warmly funny and profoundly evocative. It's simply so wonderful that I won't say a word against it.
adult themes, language cert 15 23.Oct.01 lff

R E A D E R   R E V I E W S
send your review to Shadows... "What an fantastic film! I was truly amazed at how well Mira Nair was able to create such a complex storyline, so sucessfully. For those who haven't seen this extraodinary piece of work, go out there and see it! And for those who have already seen it, get out there and watch it again!" --Angel, Australia 10.Jan.02

monsoon wedding "Hollywood has disappointed me. Monsoon Wedding has won me over to the international film community. Never before have I seen a movie that was so genuine, enjoyable and not overly fabricated. I found an instant attraction to this without being bombarded with boring previews. Please make more movies!" --Joe Edquilane, San Leandro, California 18.Oct.02

© 2001 by Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

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