Reviews (4)

Ruminators sounding better than ever!
It was in 1990 I first heard the Ruminators opening for Tempest, if I recall. They had a very unique sound that really grooved. Soft, airy, but down to earth. I bought their first CD and loved it, especially their remake of the Beatles "You Can't Do That," which is one of the very few times that someone has done a better job of a remake.

This new album is most excellent, and they sound excellent. The songs flow together quite nicely and it's a real pleasure to listen to.

Duo brings sounds of love to airy folk creations
Independent songsmiths offer what those who have gone on to record with big name studios cannot. Namely, music that sounds almost live and true to the performing arts. That has never been more truer than with the ruminators who vocals, harmonies and hooks need no production value to sound good. This is contempory folk on the lighter side. Mostly rousing balads and songs of new-found love, there is much to spur you on to a better mood. Listen and enjoy.

what a treat...
what an absolute, tasty little treat. its smart, funny, and sometimes wonderfully crude. though sarita choudhury is billed first on most reviews & press, naveen andrews steals the show--its his film, all the way. and hes utterly beautiful--again, even as a citified drugstore cowboy. this movie abounds w/ exceedingly bad hats & seedy western wear, and "dude" is said a few too many times; but it seems that attwood is using these devices as affect, not as a british understanding of country music & its culture, but rather, as a way to contrast southall & londons tightly packed markets with the big sky & wide open places so revered in country. here, in _wild west_, you even find cheatin', drinkin', love for mama, & a porch-dog (whos a little star in his own right), as well as intersting use of the word "redneck." thanks to the (wonderful) exploitation of that nebulous musical genre known as "alternative country," _wild west_ maintains a refreshing obscurity (contrary to the above review, there is, thank god, no garth brooks on the soundtrack). the only morsel missing is willie nelsons "mamas, dont let your babies grow up to be cowboys," which would have said it all.

Off the beaten path comedy
One of the best indy-type films I have seen in a long while. If you like non-formula films, then see this one. The cast is first rate-- anyone remember Kip from 'The English Patient'? The writing is excellent, and it always hits the right mark when searching for a laugh. One of my favorites! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good, but somewhat of an empty plot!
This movie is a very good attempt by Meera Syal and Gurinder Chadha to show how Indian women try to embrace new cultural ideals while retaining traditions of the past. The women not only suffer from racism in white England, but also sexism within their own culture.

However the narrative seems to be somewhat underdeveloped. It doesn't seem to go indepth with the different characters. For instance I would have like to have learned a little more about the older aunt, Asha, who hallucinates about the clashes between Indian mores and Western influences. The histories of younger teenagers Madhu and Bina, as well as the abused Ginder and her husband, should have been a little more insightful.

The only aspect of the movie I really liked is the relationship between Hashida and her Jamaican boyfriend, played very well by Mo Sesay, who doesn't hesitate to show emotion towards a life altering decision.

Nonetheless, throughout the movie it can be noticed that all the women have experiences that changes her way of thinking towards theirselves and society to some degree. This is probably what the screenwriter and director of this movie wanted to convey to the audience. All and all, this is a very decent movie to watch.

Must-see on transnational gender, race, class
What does it mean to be Indian women in today's Britain? "Bhaji on the Beach" follows a intergenerational group of transmigrant Indian women in the UK as they organize for a day at the seashore. En route they address racism, sexism, and changing culture in ways sometimes humorous, sometimes in-your-face brash, sometimes frightening, sometimes poignant. The range of women -- young feminist organizer, recent bride, young mother, middle-class housewives, traditional grandmothers,sexually awakening teens -- and the the issues addressed make the film both emotionally engaging and thought provoking. The outing that is the central occasion in the film touches off a series of moral and cultural dilemmas for these women. Through vignettes, the contradictions (often quite funny) faced by the women unfold. The generations unexpectedly come together around wife battering and community responses to it. Fine acting, deft directing.

A combination of "Joy Luck Club" and "Get On The Bus"
If there is a movie for any Westerner who is into road trip movies and interested in seeing international movies but afraid of subtitles, this is a wonderful start. The director Ms. Chadha is a great storyteller. Her tapestry of female characters, riding a bus to an amusement park to get away from the opposite sex in order to be in touch with themselves, weaves together a splendid film. The group of Indian-British women characters of various generations, professions and ages reminds me of the strong Asian women characters in "The Joy Luck Club," where the women find strength in each other by just bonding--simply spending time together. Not to say that "Beaches" and "The Color Purple" are bad examples. Those two films are great too. But it's rare to have movies about women, especially women of color with whose cultures sometimes restrict them in their goals and dreams. Even just everyday stuff like racism and sexism and male-female relationships (which the characters discuss while on the road) isn't always a unanimous decision. Also, the movie reminds me of Spike Lee's "Get On The Bus," another movie of a group of a people of color of one gender(African-American men)also of various ages, generations, and professions find strength in each other on their bus trip en route to Washington DC. These men bond together while agreeing and disagreeing about sexism, racism, etc. Plus also getting away from the opposite sex in their bus road trip because incidently, they're going to the Million Man March.

The bus road trip in "Bhaji On The Beach" isn't as politically based "Get On The Bus," but it does have spiritual growth merit with the travelers on board both trips.

I know I didn't get too much with my review of "Bhaji On The Beach," but if you liked my comparison of the movie with "The Joy Luck Club" and "Get On The Bus," please WATCH IT. It's a very good movie. In fact, watch all three of them. You'll won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good, but somewhat of an empty plot!
This movie is a very good attempt by Meera Syal and Gurinder Chadha to show how Indian women try to embrace new cultural ideals while retaining traditions of the past. The women not only suffer from racism in white England, but also sexism within their own culture.

However the narrative seems to be somewhat underdeveloped. It doesn't seem to go indepth with the different characters. For instance I would have like to have learned a little more about the older aunt, Asha, who hallucinates about the clashes between Indian mores and Western influences. The histories of younger teenagers Madhu and Bina, as well as the abused Ginder and her husband, should have been a little more insightful.

The only aspect of the movie I really liked is the relationship between Hashida and her Jamaican boyfriend, played very well by Mo Sesay, who doesn't hesitate to show emotion towards a life altering decision.

Nonetheless, throughout the movie it can be noticed that all the women have experiences that changes her way of thinking towards theirselves and society to some degree. This is probably what the screenwriter and director of this movie wanted to convey to the audience. All and all, this is a very decent movie to watch.

Must-see on transnational gender, race, class
What does it mean to be Indian women in today's Britain? "Bhaji on the Beach" follows a intergenerational group of transmigrant Indian women in the UK as they organize for a day at the seashore. En route they address racism, sexism, and changing culture in ways sometimes humorous, sometimes in-your-face brash, sometimes frightening, sometimes poignant. The range of women -- young feminist organizer, recent bride, young mother, middle-class housewives, traditional grandmothers,sexually awakening teens -- and the the issues addressed make the film both emotionally engaging and thought provoking. The outing that is the central occasion in the film touches off a series of moral and cultural dilemmas for these women. Through vignettes, the contradictions (often quite funny) faced by the women unfold. The generations unexpectedly come together around wife battering and community responses to it. Fine acting, deft directing.

A combination of "Joy Luck Club" and "Get On The Bus"
If there is a movie for any Westerner who is into road trip movies and interested in seeing international movies but afraid of subtitles, this is a wonderful start. The director Ms. Chadha is a great storyteller. Her tapestry of female characters, riding a bus to an amusement park to get away from the opposite sex in order to be in touch with themselves, weaves together a splendid film. The group of Indian-British women characters of various generations, professions and ages reminds me of the strong Asian women characters in "The Joy Luck Club," where the women find strength in each other by just bonding--simply spending time together. Not to say that "Beaches" and "The Color Purple" are bad examples. Those two films are great too. But it's rare to have movies about women, especially women of color with whose cultures sometimes restrict them in their goals and dreams. Even just everyday stuff like racism and sexism and male-female relationships (which the characters discuss while on the road) isn't always a unanimous decision. Also, the movie reminds me of Spike Lee's "Get On The Bus," another movie of a group of a people of color of one gender(African-American men)also of various ages, generations, and professions find strength in each other on their bus trip en route to Washington DC. These men bond together while agreeing and disagreeing about sexism, racism, etc. Plus also getting away from the opposite sex in their bus road trip because incidently, they're going to the Million Man March.

The bus road trip in "Bhaji On The Beach" isn't as politically based "Get On The Bus," but it does have spiritual growth merit with the travelers on board both trips.

I know I didn't get too much with my review of "Bhaji On The Beach," but if you liked my comparison of the movie with "The Joy Luck Club" and "Get On The Bus," please WATCH IT. It's a very good movie. In fact, watch all three of them. You'll won't be disappointed. ... Read more