Freaktana A Major Disappointment

Comwayon A Disappointing Continuation

Sienna-Rose Mclaughlin The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Jemima It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

SnoopyStyle In 1972, Idi Amin takes power in Uganda and expels all Asians. Jay (Roshan Seth) is heartbroken to leave his homeland. He takes his wife Kinnu and daughter Meena ultimately to Greenwood, Mississippi. Flash forward to 1990, Meena (Sarita Choudhury) is a rebellious teen and crashes her car into Demetrius Williams (Denzel Washington). Jay is still trying to return to his home in Uganda. The family lives at the motel owned by the extended family. Demetrius is a responsible working guy unlike his brothers. Demetrius and Meena start a relationship raising objections from her family.Washington is terrific as always. Choudhury is not as great and the imbalance makes the romance a little wonky. It's probably my one and only complaint. The race relationships from a different point of view is compelling. Jay is a really interesting character with a fascinating story. This romance is definitely something out of the ordinary unlike most Hollywood movies.

ssav86 I have to disagree with the other comments. I think that this movie is entirely in your face when it comes to race relations. One would think that all African Americans and Indians talked about was how they were not white. I also found the protagonists to be selfish and annoying. One would think if Mina's clichéd "what about me's" didn't get on people's' nerves, then her general disrespectful attitude and nastiness would. I found Demetrius to be disrespectful as well. Mina's family was upset with him because of his skin color? Maybe, just maybe it was the fact that they caught him having sex with her daughter - and yes, call me a curmudgeon, but I think I agree with traditional Indian culture, which seems to be against having sex after a couple of dates. Maybe I'm just not liberated enough!In general, the plot unfolded slowly, and besides the assisine dialogues, much of it just didn't click. Why, for example, if he was such a swell guy, as the movie tries to present him, would Demetrius hit on Mina when Harry was right there in the first place? Denzel is of course a great actor, but they just didn't write for him here. The only appealing aspect of this movie was the father and his story.

rosscinema This is an intimate look at Indians from Africa in America that are just trying to do the best they can and still maintain their values and it was made into a film when the director discovered that many of the motels in the south are owned by Indians. Story is about an Indian family that was ousted from Uganda in the early 70's when Idi Amin started to kick out all Asians. Jay (Roshan Seth) was a lawyer in Africa but had to take his wife Kinnu (Sharmila Tagore) and his young daughter Mina out of the country and would end up in Greenwood, Mississippi. Years later Mina (Sarita Choudhury) who is 24 still lives with her parents who run a motel and they expect her to marry an Indian gentleman. One day Mina is involved in a traffic accident and meets a young black man named Demetrius (Denzel Washington) and after exchanging address's he asks her out on a date. They start to date but keep it secret from her parents until they are caught by fellow Indians.*****SPOILER ALERT*****Demetrius owns a carpet cleaning business and many of his clients are the Indian motel owners and when word spreads of their relationship his business starts to go downhill which puts him in trouble with the bank. Mina loves Demetrius but he is seriously hurt by the reaction of not only the Indians in the community but of her parents.This film was directed by Mira Nair who has added so much to films with her poignant views of Indian culture trying to survive in America and she had made a big impact with her first feature "Salaam Bombay!" and would later make the splendid "Monsoon Wedding". One of the interesting things about this story is that we get to see why this family had to come to America instead of just having the film start with them already in Mississippi. While this is an interesting and provocative script what lies at the core of this film is a simple love story that is relevant to this day. Washington was just emerging as an important actor and he's solid as usual but the film's star is really by newcomer Choudhury. This was her first role and even though at times she appears nervous she turns in a very good performance. It cannot be easy to be in your first film and have nude scenes but she evidently came through alright and shows enough freshness and charm to practically steal the film. Film goes on a tad long and the last 20 minutes seem obvious but this is an intriguing story and Nair is an important director who has again shown her observances of transplanted Indians in America.

mejoel As an Indian residing in another country, the story pulled some familiar strings in me. The movie wonderfully captures and eloquently describes the battles fought by an immigrant or a foreign resident. The racism, prejudice, exposed to, and how a confused citizen - between cultures - tries to adjust is well brought out. A gripping story, dispassionately told. While passionate love stories between two diverse cultures, are not altogether new, the way the director keeps us attentive is very impressive. Kampala to London to Mississippi. Childhood to adolescence to adulthood. Passion to Patriotism to Prejudice. Devotion to dilemma to disregard. Excellent!