Chutney Popcorn

Startlingly Sensitive and Funny
For unknown reasons, I could hear in my head the vindictive (and hopefully fictional!) voice of a fundamentalist preacher condemning the "unnatural acts of sinful love" of this film's main characters.

In actuality, this is a movie about the true meanings in contemporary America of "love," "family," and "culture," and it grapples admirably with the changing social and personal-relationship patterns brought about by modern notions of democracy and freedom. Lisa and Reena are truly in love, and their families truly love them as well; but how are all these individuals to deal with Reena's choice to carry to term the baby she is producing through artificial insemination (using her brother-in-law's sperm)? Reena's sister has decided that she no longer WANTS a baby (she herself, biologically, cannot provide the egg for the child-to-be); however, Reena has decided SHE wants the baby, while Reena's female lover doesn't wish to become part of a...

Just that much more spice...
In the stereotypical Indian mother who refuses to accept the fact that her daughter is a lesbian and continues to refer to her daughter's lover (Jill Hennessey delivering an excellent performance!) as her 'college roommate,' "Chutney Popcorn" finds a touch of humor, stark reality and soul. Reena (Nisha Ganatra directing herself) is a photographer with a penchant for temporary mehndi tattoos, lives with Lisa whom she loves dearly, has a newly wed sister, and is plunged into a situation she quickly loses control over.

What is particularly brilliant about this film is the evolution of characters as the movie progresses, exquisitely offset by the humdrum of life, given how the developing plot is always inadvertently eavesdropped on by the neighborhood paan-seller. The film deals with some serious issues without ever becoming a discourse on values and morals; "Chutney Popcorn" never looses touch of the obvious reality and the subtle innate humor of the situation; a truly...

Chutney Popcorn is simply a delight!
Nisha Ganatra's new film, "Chutney Popcorn," is a delightful mix of culture clashes, sibling rivalry, and good, old-fashioned dyke drama played out in modern day New York. Multi-talented Ganatra (writer, producer and director) stars as "Reena," very much the black sheep of the family, not only due to her vocation (she's a photographer), but also because of her lesbianism. Her newlywed sibling, Sarita, played by Sakina Jeffrey), finds out she is infertile and that's when the games begin!

Entangled in the fertility games is Reena's commitment-phobic girlfriend, Lisa (Crossing Jordan's Jill Hennessy), Sarita's husband, Mitch, and the girls' mother, an ever-meddlesome, traditional Indian woman. Momma is horrified when Reena decides to step up to the plate and offer herself as a surrogate for Mitch's sperm, Lisa feels the commitment rope tightening around her throat at the announcement, and Sarita begins to have second doubts about the baby.

The ensuing tale is a delight as Reena and...

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