I saw the film at SiFF, and thought it was very well-done. It could very well be that there’s no insight there for people familiar with Indo-Londonian culture (a term I just made up), but for those who aren’t–like me–it was eye-opening. The three main characters were very delicately drawn. The transition of the young, idealistic love-interest into an extremist (he didn’t seem all that extreme, aside from the beard and the leaflet-printing) was almost beautiful. Portrayals of the average-Mo-into-fundie trope in films by non-Muslims tend to be very formulaic: dude starts out “good” (ie fairly westernized), is persecuted by bumbling westerners or trying circumstances, and turns abruptly and with many stock phrases to Ze Relijon. The portrayal of Karim in Brick Lane is much more nuanced. After he gets militant, you still like and empathize with him–revelatory to anyone who thinks fundamentalism is a simple equation.

The author of the SM review makes great points, however, and I think this is just a matter of taste…she liked the film version of The Namesake, which I could barely stay awake for. Kal Penn didn’t cut it for me. Although I must say I like him in House.