On Brick Lane

I hesitate to talk about movies here. I once mentioned West Wing and received a surprised comment that a rabbi would watch a TV show. Sometimes, I can't stay silent. I just watched a beautiful film, well conceived and realized in terms of acting, cinematography, story arc - in every way. It's the kind of film that I didn't like at some points but felt compelled to keep watching and at the end I was pleased with how it came together with wise truth. I hadn't heard of it, or the book it's based on till tonight, but I'm glad I came across it. It will stay with me.

Here's what Roger Ebert said when this movie opened in theaters a year ago:

Watching it, I was reminded of how many shallow, cynical, vulgar movies I've seen in this early summer season, and how few which truly engage in matters of the heart. "Brick Lane" is about characters who have depth and reality, who change and learn, who have genuine feelings. And it keeps on surprising us, right to the end.