I Can't Think Straight (2008)

In the upper echelons of traditional Middle Eastern society, Reema and Omar prepare for the marriage of their daughter Tala. But back at work in London, Tala encounters Leyla, a young ... See full summary »

Director:

Shamim Sarif

Writers:

Shamim Sarif (screenplay), Kelly Moss (screenplay)

Stars:

Lisa Ray, Sheetal Sheth, Antonia Frering

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lisa Ray	...	Tala
Sheetal Sheth	...	Leyla
Antonia Frering	...	Reema
Dalip Tahil	...	Omar
Nina Wadia	...	Housekeeper
Ernest Ignatius	...	Sam
Siddiqua Akhtar	...	Maya
Amber Rose Revah	...	Yasmin
Anya Lahiri	...	Lamia
Kimberly Jaraj	...	Zina
Sam Vincenti	...	Kareem
Rez Kempton	...	Ali
Darwin Shaw	...	Hani (as Daud Shah)
George Tardios	...	Uncle Ramzi
Ishwar Maharaj	...	Sami

Storyline

In the upper echelons of traditional Middle Eastern society, Reema and Omar prepare for the marriage of their daughter Tala. But back at work in London, Tala encounters Leyla, a young British Indian woman who is dating Tala's best friend Ali. Tala sees something unique in the artless, clumsy, sensitive Leyla who secretly works to become a writer. And Tala's forthright challenges to Leyla's beliefs begins a journey of self-awareness for Leyla. As the women fall in love, Tala's own sense of duty and cultural restraint cause her to pull away from Leyla and fly back to Jordan where the preparations for an ostentatious wedding are well under way. As family members descend and the wedding day approaches, the pressure mounts until Tala finally cracks and extricates herself. Back in London, Leyla is heartbroken but learns to break free of her own self-doubt and her mother's expectations, ditching Ali and being honest with her parents about her sexuality. When Ali and Leyla's feisty sister ...

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Plot Keywords:

indian | arabic music | oxford | insurance agent | passion | 

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Taglines:

You can only find true love when you're true to yourself

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

November 2008 (USA)

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$15,239 (USA) (21 November 2008)

Gross:

$39,373 (USA) (11 September 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Enlightenment Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min 85 min (European Film Market)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor) Color (Eastmancolor) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The 2 children in the park at the end of the film are Shamim and Hanan's children.

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Goofs

When Leyla and Tala are sitting on the stairs in the park both are wearing black shoes. In the next scene when they are walking through the park Tala's shoes are ocher.

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Quotes

Woman at end of movie: [after being told Leyla is lesbian] She's what? But some of my best friends are Lebanese!

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Soundtracks

"Tell Me"
Written by Raiomond Mirza and Shamim Sarif
Performed by Leonie Casanova

User Reviews

Gorgeous, funny and sexy.

I have always thought this movie would be funny and quirky, and it is. I loved the way they put comedic scenes in certain parts without being inappropriate. I loved it even more because in so many ways, I also find it extremely sexy (unlike the many other lesbian films that needed to show pure nudity). Although it might be one of the many I'm-gonna-marry-but-I- fell-in-love-with-another story, it hit off just right. 'Cause it did not just focus about that, but having to come up to your parents. It is about standing for who you are and for the one you love.

Such a good love movie.

A must-watch. Lisa (Tala) and Sheetal (Leyla) are both so bloody gorgeous I think I am a pebble - or less than.