Over the weekend, I watched this movie for the first time again in just over twelve years - which in itself is scary and rather heartbreaking, I can tell you.
I watched this for the first time in the cinema, when I was seventeen and, myself having been immersed in different cultures and feeling very much like an outsider in both these places at different times for different reasons, I found it incredibly easy to sympathise with Meena. It's quite easy to see the young Meera Syal and feel a lot of her pain and confusion, as well as get soaked up in her dreams almost as much as she is! It pays off when you knows what really becomes of her in real life!
Having watched this again recently, I've earned a whole new level of respect for this film, because Syal has deliberately and exceptionally painted a picture meant for both struggling teenagers who are at their most painful stages, and adults who are reflecting on how different and seemingly better things used to be.
This time on watching, I found myself empathising and actually properly listening to the adults characters a lot more. A lot has changed since I was seventeen! But they are as padded as they need to be. The Mother and Father are characters whom one cannot help but almost cry for in their own isolation, entirely different but just as easy to sympathise with as their daughter. The recognisable characters in the mad 'Auntie' and somewhat shrewed-over Uncle including, I sadly hasten to add, the prejudiced and narrow-minded neighbours and community made it feel as if one were almost looking back at one's own photo album...
It also has something rather important that is often overlooked these days in there, as one of its main subjects - the first love that one ever has, that isn't a sexual love or necessarily for a member of the opposite sex. It's that somewhat Greek idea, now at least, of falling completely head over heels for someone because they are everything that you wish you could be, and you spend time with them because you want to be them too. I think this is mostly overlooked in books AND films these days sadly, as it's always turned into something seedy, even when it is between juveniles, as that is when it usually naturally occurs. It's very bold and lovely to see this, and to see it portrayed so beautifully and poetically as well.
It is a coming-of-age film at different times in my life for me!
Also, what a marvellous score! Having remembered how great it was, I've been listening to it on Youtube while working all this week thus far!
Accents a bit dodgy here and there, but that's probably to be expected when it is set in a very specific location and with some great talent from all over the country - what am I saying? The world! - here and there.
I can't wait to see how I feel about it watching it in another twelve years, but I don't suspect my love for it will be dulled at all.
I watched this for the first time in the cinema, when I was seventeen and, myself having been immersed in different cultures and feeling very much like an outsider in both these places at different times for different reasons, I found it incredibly easy to sympathise with Meena. It's quite easy to see the young Meera Syal and feel a lot of her pain and confusion, as well as get soaked up in her dreams almost as much as she is! It pays off when you knows what really becomes of her in real life!
Having watched this again recently, I've earned a whole new level of respect for this film, because Syal has deliberately and exceptionally painted a picture meant for both struggling teenagers who are at their most painful stages, and adults who are reflecting on how different and seemingly better things used to be.
This time on watching, I found myself empathising and actually properly listening to the adults characters a lot more. A lot has changed since I was seventeen! But they are as padded as they need to be. The Mother and Father are characters whom one cannot help but almost cry for in their own isolation, entirely different but just as easy to sympathise with as their daughter. The recognisable characters in the mad 'Auntie' and somewhat shrewed-over Uncle including, I sadly hasten to add, the prejudiced and narrow-minded neighbours and community made it feel as if one were almost looking back at one's own photo album...
It also has something rather important that is often overlooked these days in there, as one of its main subjects - the first love that one ever has, that isn't a sexual love or necessarily for a member of the opposite sex. It's that somewhat Greek idea, now at least, of falling completely head over heels for someone because they are everything that you wish you could be, and you spend time with them because you want to be them too. I think this is mostly overlooked in books AND films these days sadly, as it's always turned into something seedy, even when it is between juveniles, as that is when it usually naturally occurs. It's very bold and lovely to see this, and to see it portrayed so beautifully and poetically as well.
It is a coming-of-age film at different times in my life for me!
Also, what a marvellous score! Having remembered how great it was, I've been listening to it on Youtube while working all this week thus far!
Accents a bit dodgy here and there, but that's probably to be expected when it is set in a very specific location and with some great talent from all over the country - what am I saying? The world! - here and there.
I can't wait to see how I feel about it watching it in another twelve years, but I don't suspect my love for it will be dulled at all.