Touch of Pink (2004)

A gay Canadian living in London has his perfectly crafted life upset when his devoutly Muslim mother comes to visit.

Director:

Ian Iqbal Rashid

Writers:

Ian Iqbal Rashid, Ken Chubb (story editor)

Stars:

Jimi Mistry, Kris Holden-Ried, Suleka Mathew

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jimi Mistry	...	Alim
Kyle MacLachlan	...	Spirit of Cary Grant
Suleka Mathew	...	Nuru Jahan
Kris Holden-Ried	...	Giles (as Kristen Holden-Ried)
Veena Sood	...	Dolly
Brian George	...	Hassan
Liisa Repo-Martell	...	Delia
Raoul Bhaneja	...	Khaled
Malika Mendez	...	Sherubai
Linda Thorson	...	Giles' Mother
Andrew Gillies	...	Raymond
Barna Moricz	...	Alex
Sam Moses	...	Vendor
Dean McDermott	...	Alisdair Keith
Les Porter	...	Caterer

Storyline

Alim is an Indo-Canadian man currently living in London, England, the move in order to get away from what he feels is his repressive life in Toronto under the watchful and critical eye of his widowed mother, Nuru. For Nuru and her equally competitive sister Dolly, the perfect public Muslim persona is the most important thing in life. Back in London, Alim is free to live openly as a homosexual, of which his mother is not aware. He is in a loving relationship with his live-in British boyfriend, Giles. To navigate through his complicated life, Alim uses the spirit of 'Cary Grant' as his confidante and advisor. Feeling like her life is missing a daughter-in-law as Dolly prepares for her son's "perfect" wedding, Nuru decides to reconnect with Alim in London. Not yet ready to tell his mother of either Giles or his homosexual orientation, Alim, with Giles' support, hides any aspect of this fact for Nuru's visit. But as Giles is tested one turn after another during Nuru's visit, both Alim and...

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Plot Keywords:

gay | gay club | homophobia | gay cruising | gay slur | 

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Taglines:

Meet Alim. His lover. His mother...and his imaginary muse in the spirit of Cary Grant.

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Genres:

Drama | Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures Classics [United States]

Country:

Canada UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 July 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

That Touch of Pink

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$79,883, 18 July 2004, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$564,535, 5 December 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

Martin Pope Productions,Sienna Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

DirCameo(Ian Iqbal Rashid): in the background sitting at a desk at the beginning of the movie when Alim is at the movie studio.

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Quotes

Nuru: Laughter is the very best medicine, hmm?
Alim: Then I must be in the placebo group.

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Connections

References The Pride and the Passion (1957)

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Soundtracks

Summer Son
Written by Sharleen Spiteri and Johnny McElhone and Eddie Campbell and Charlotte Hodson
Performed by Texas

User Reviews

Charming and funny coming out story

A remarkably charming homage to a dozen 40's, 50's and 60s romantic comedies. The plot is a standard coming-out-to-mom story, not particularly surprising, but mom and auntie are brilliant. Entire scenes are lifted from Doris Day/Katherine Hepburn/Cary Grant movies.

Kyle MacLachlan as the spirit of Cary Grant mentors a gay Indian man in Toronto and London while the boyfriend charms the sari off of mom. The ambitious and acquisitive relatives plan a ridiculous marriage while the alienated son clings to an integrity no one else bothers with.

At last, a story that's not poignant or heartwarming, just funny and good.