3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A feel-good cross-cultural romantic drama, June 10, 2010
"David and Layla" is a romantic drama that explores the love between two people from very different cultural backgrounds. David Fine (David Moscow) is a Jewish guy and host of a show "Sex and Happiness" who spends his workdays interviewing people on the streets of Brooklyn. He is engaged to a domineering, Type- A personality, Abby (Callie Thorne), also a Jew. Things are moving along, not altogether satisfactorily (especially in his love life), when David sees a beautiful, exotic young woman walk down the street one day. The lady in question is Layla (Shiva Rose), a Kurdish refugee from Iraq who is living with her affluent relatives whilst she tries to figure out a way to get a green card - her visa expires in 30 days, and she faces deportation.
David finds himself falling hard for Layla, and the story centers on their courtship and the problems that inevitably arise in a cross-cultural romance, especially considering that David is a Jew whilst Layla is a Muslim. Needless to say, both families are not too thrilled at the couple's romance - David's mother, Judith (Polly Fine) is a typical Jewish mother who is horrified at the prospect of getting a shiksa daughter-in-law, especially a Muslim! Peter Van Wagner turns in a fine performance as Mel, David's laidback and empathetic father.
The two leads share a credible on-screen chemistry that makes the viewer buy into the love at first sight premise (well for David at least). Shiva Rose (ex-wife of actor Dylan McDermott) is compelling and sexy as the lovely Layla who harbors within her a poetic and sensitive soul, who loves to dance and resorts to lying to her relatives (telling them she attends nursing school) whilst moonlighting as a traditional dancer in a local establishment. Unfortunately, so much is crammed into the storytelling, that not enough time is spent focusing on what draws Layla to David and vice versa, in terms of genuine feelings and depth of emotion. The story is packed with too many characters, and though the supporting cast does a good job, I felt this was a classic example of "too many cooks spoiling the broth".
The cultural differences are explored using humor - the scene where Layla attends Passover dinner at David's house, bringing inappropriate hostess gifts is one among many scenes peppered throughout the movie. But, once again, this felt a bit derivative to me - if Layla truly loved David, then why did she not make the effort to find out what would make an appropriate Passover gift? Also, it felt to me like David was the one willing to make the most accommodations in the relationship.
Ultimately, I thought the movie was a fun exploration of an inter-religious romance, but it does approach the story in an almost trivial manner - there is no real, genuine, in-depth exploration of the complexities inherent within such relationships. I should know, being in a cross-cultural marriage myself. Final verdict - a fun movie with generally good acting, and should make good entertainment for those who like rom-coms.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A movie for our times!, January 13, 2010
This is a very entertaining romantic comedy about a Jewish TV producer, David, who falls in love with a young Muslim woman, Layla, a Kurdish immigrant whose visa for visiting America is soon to expire. Layla dances for a living while she lives with her relatives who have grown very attached to her. They want her to remain in America and so they encourage her to accept the marriage proposal of a successful Iranian-American doctor who is smitten with her even though his feelings are not reciprocated. David falls in love with Layla while he is engaged with a Type A personality Jewish girl whose persona makes her both funny and captivating to watch. The unfolding romance between David and Layla creates friction in each of their families who are as passionate about their religious faith as they are of disdaining the other. The director is masterful in advancing the movie's plot by displaying the serious concerns of both families as they reluctantly recognize the genuine affection of the lovers. The movie is mesmerizing from start to finish. Notice how the director uses color schemes and music to highlight the differences between the cultures. This movie truly deserves 5 stars...get a copy...you won't be disappointed.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sexy, funny comedy - Love can conquer all., May 6, 2010
Shot in and around New York City, the film focuses on David, a Jewish New Yorker who hosts a cable access man-in-the-street type interview show. He meets and falls for a beautiful Kurdish woman named Layla who has recently arrived in New York from Iraq. The romance of these two lovers from two radically different cultures and religions places them at odds with their families and sometimes with each other. Thankfully the film takes a mostly comic approach to these conflicts except for one moving sequence where Layla screens some footage for David of her Iraqi hometown which had been gassed by Saddam. The supporting cast is uniformly excellent and able to be funny when needed and yet also able to play the inherent drama of these two families in conflict. The director has put together a terrific artistic staff. Everything from the film score to the sets to the beautiful photography and costumes is first rate. Especially wonderful is the gloriously raucous wedding scene. The film is fast paced and always sexy and very funny and entertaining throughout. Writer/Director Jay Jonroy based the film on a true story and his passion for the material makes the film a joy to watch. Love can conquer all. Highly recommended!
David & Layla
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