David & Layla (2005)

Director:

Jay Jonroy

Writer (WGA):

Jay Jonroy (written by)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Kosher meets Halal!

Plot:

Star-crossed lovers, David & Layla- Romeo & Juliet in New York with a twist!. Inspired by a true story, a spicy romantic comedy...via Iraq & Jerusalem.

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Arab | World Trade Center New York | Saladin | Immigration Agent

Awards:

6 wins

Cast

David Moscow	...	David Fine
Shiva Rose	...	Layla
Callie Thorne	...	Abby, David's fiancee
Peter Van Wagner	...	Mel Fine
Polly Adams	...	Judith Fine
Will Janowitz	...	Woody Fine
Ed Chemaly	...	Uncle Ali "Al"
Alexander Blaise	...	Francois
Anna George	...	Zina, Uncle Al's wife
Ken Kliban	...	Dr. Jacobson, vasectomy doctor
Albert Macklin	...	Dr. Susswein, the shrink
Hany Kamal	...	Imam
Tibor Feldman	...	Rabbi Rabinovich
Joseph Kamal	...	Howar, Saz / Tanbur player.
Anahid	...	Aunt Aftaw Khan

Also Known As:

Kosher & Halal (USA) (working title)
Sex & Happiness (USA) (working title)
Sex & Spice (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | Dolby

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Newroz Films

Trivia:

This film is inspired by a true love story. Married since 1990, the real David & Layla now live in Paris. They flew to New York to meet the cast and the crew during the production of this film. The real Layla designed Layla's wedding dress. She is the guest with green eyes and dark hair who is one of the Kurdish dancing women in bright golden orange gilet, during the wedding. Her husband, the real David, plays himself as the new vasectomy patient who answers to his real name, David Ruby, and gets the appointment with Dr. Jacobson.

Timely, thoughtful, unafraid to make social comment

David and Layla is a very timely film, not only in USA but in many countries in the world where refugees who seek asylum are faced with the inevitable difficulties of integrating not only into established societies but with other refugees of different ethnicities and religious beliefs.

Humour leavens and yet underscores the serious difficulties encountered by the young couple although at times it is used a little too heavily and borders on slapstick.

The film makes strong political comment through simple statement of fact - who were Saddam's major supporters anyway? There is valuable use of archival footage: stark, black and white sequences that contrast sharply with the colourful and sometime flamboyant costumes and decor in David and Layla's story. We wonder if the colour and the flamboyance may be transient - will they disappear in a return to suffering? The best of human nature prevails when the very differences are recognised as similarities, surprising even the protagonists. That David and Layla are real people and this is based on their true story makes the film even more poignant.

The acting is routinely strong with the roles of Layla and David's Jewish father superbly played.

I hope David and Layla gets major distribution that takes it to other countries such as England and Australia where it would resonate equally.