Night of Henna

Last updated
Night of Henna
Directed byHassan Zee
Produced byHassan Zee
Starring Pooja Kumar
Reef Karim
CinematographyHiro Narita
Edited by
Suzun Hughes
  • Jeffery Severtson
  • Sharon Franklin
Music byChebbi Sabah
Release date
  • 25 March 2005 (2005-03-25)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Night of Henna is a 2005 romantic comedy film directed by Hassan Zee ( Bicycle Bride ), and is the first Pakistani-American feature film. The film stars Pooja Kumar, Reef Karim, Nancy Carlin, Suhail Tayyeb, Ponni Swaminathan Chesser, and Craig Marker.

Contents

Plot

A young Pakistani woman is forced to choose between an arranged marriage set up by her family and her true love.

Cast

Reception

G. Allen Johnson from SF Gate wrote that "Unfortunately, the plot is much too thin to sustain its 93-minute running time, and the underwritten script and sometimes painfully awkward staging and acting make "Night of Henna" rough going at times". [1] A. O. Scott of The New York Times wrote that "Night of Henna was obviously made for very little money, and its earnest do-it-yourself feeling gives it a degree of charm, which is augmented by Ms. Kumar's unassuming loveliness". [2] Jami Bernard of Daily News wrote that "First time writer-director-producer Hassan Zee follows a well-worn theme — the clash between generations of new immigrants — in this mildly pleasant movie". [3] Laura Sinagra of The Village Voice wrote that "San Francisco indie striver Hassan Zee's Pakistani American spin on Monsoon Wedding hobbles a likable cast with dialogue flatter than Bollywood's cheesiest". [4] Maitland McDonagh of TV Guide wrote that "Were it not for Kumar's luminous charisma, the film would be unwatchable". [5]

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References

  1. ↑ "FILM CLIPS / Also opening today". SF Gate . 4 March 2005.
  2. ↑ A. O. Scott, "A Collision of Cultures", April 22, 2005 review of Night of Henna at New York Times
  3. ↑ Jami Bernard, "Night of Henna", April 22, 2005 review of Night of Henna at Daily News
  4. ↑ Laura Sinagra, "Tracking Shots", April 18, 2005 review of Night of Henna at The Village Voice
  5. ↑ Maitland McDonagh , "Wedding bell blues", 2005 review of Night of Henna at TV Guide


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