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'Brick Lane'

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BY JOHN ANDERSON | Special to Newsday

June 20, 2008

Based on the novel by Monica Ali, director Sarah Gavron's "Brick Lane" is about the global stew, upward mobility, 9/11, pulverized dreams and the idealization of one's homeland in the face of uncomfortable new realities.

It's also a little whiny, as Nazneen (Tannishtha Chatterjee) copes with her arranged marriage to the disappointed and obese Chanu (Satish Kaushik), while trying to contend with her increasingly Westernized daughters and attraction to activist Karim (Christopher Simpson). There's also a sister back home whose peccadilloes are driving Nanzeen to distraction.

Where it's going all seems predetermined, but the visual journey is lovely, Robbie Ryan's camera turning even council-housing London into something optically enchanting.

(PG-13)

PLOT Bangladeshi immigrant struggles to find happiness in London.

CAST Tannishtha Chatterjee, Satish Laushik, Christopher Simpson.

LENGTH 1:41

PLAYING AT Lincoln Plaza, Sunshine Cinemas, Manhattan

BOTTOM LINE Gorgeously photographed but emotionally indulgent