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ABCD

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ABCD (2001)

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Reviews Counted:20

Fresh:13

Rotten:7

Average Rating:6/10

Rated: Not Rated

Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Nov 30, 2001 Limited

Synopsis: ABCD (American Born Confused Desi) focuses on a maturing Indian-American mother and her two twentysomething children who all live in New York City. Years ago, Anju (Madhur Jaffrey) chose to... ABCD (American Born Confused Desi) focuses on a maturing Indian-American mother and her two twentysomething children who all live in New York City. Years ago, Anju (Madhur Jaffrey) chose to immigrate from India to American to raise her children in America. While she struggles to maintain her Indian cultural heritage and teach her children Hindu values, it is inevitable that her kids choose their own paths. Her beautiful daughter, Nina (Sheetal Sheth), is a cold, sexy, promiscuous, argumentative princess who rolls her eyes at almost everything, including the Indian traditions her mother holds dear. The thought of arranged marriage repulses her, she openly curses Krishna and Kahina, and she rebuffs the palm reader that her mother invites to dinner. Anju's son, Raj (Faran Tahir), appears to embrace his Indian heritage and agrees to get engaged in an arranged marriage to a beautiful Indian woman. However, when Raj's white business partner gets the promotion that Raj deserved, and a white woman at work starts flirting with him, he considers breaking his vows and abandoning his faith in Indian traditions. A starkly straightforward film, ABCD sheds light on complex issues surrounding family, work, and marriage. [More]

Starring: Faran Tahir, Madhur Jaffrey, Sheetal Sheth, Aasif Mandvi

Starring: Faran Tahir, Madhur Jaffrey, Sheetal Sheth, Aasif Mandvi, Adriane Erdos, David Ari, Jennifer Dorr White, Rex Young

Director: Krutin Patel

Director: Krutin Patel
Screenwriter: James McManus, Krutin Patel
Producer: Naju Patel, Glenn Fisher, Krutin Patel
Studio: Eros Entertainment

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Apr 20, 2004

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Reviews for ABCD

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1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out

At times the deck is egregiously stacked.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
09/30/02
David Chute
David Chute
L.A. Weekly

Its identity posturing is considerably less potent than that of Chutney Popcorn's.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
11/26/01
Ed Gonzalez
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine

ABCD's abecedarian treatment of melting-pot anxieties proves as jumbled and bland as alphabet soup.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
11/27/01
Ed Park
Ed Park
Village Voice

The bad news is that [Jaffrey] leaves us a little hungry for people whose destinies matter to us more than the ones served up here.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
11/30/01
Jan Stuart
Jan Stuart
Newsday
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Despite the compelling subject matter and storyline, the film's execution isn't so persuasive: The dialogue is weak, much of the acting poor and the pace sluggish.

comment Comment
11/29/01
Jean Oppenheimer
Jean Oppenheimer
New Times

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
12/16/01
Russell Smith
Russell Smith
Austin Chronicle

ABCD gets an "A" for its intentions, but unfortunately just barely passes on all other accounts.

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
01/11/07
Ted Murphy
Ted Murphy
Hollywood.com

Thankfully, Patel does not take sides.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
11/30/01
Anika Van Wyk
Anika Van Wyk
Jam! Movies

An involving study of sibling and interpersonal relationships.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer | comment Comment
02/21/02
Carrie Rickey
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Nothing particularly fresh or exciting, but its intentions are so sincere and, for the most part, it's so well-acted that it emerges as quite affecting.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
12/09/01
David Noh
David Noh
Film Journal International

This fine film conveys the difficulty of living in a twilight zone between the customs of the old country and the ever-changing values of America.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
12/02/01
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

It's easy to see why ABCD has been a favorite on the film festival circuit for more than a year. Check it out while you can.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
11/30/01
Glenn Whipp
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Daily News

The plight of culturally displaced Americans is given sensitive, humorous treatment in what could be the first film to treat the East Indian experience in America.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
11/01/01
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve

Compassionate, funny and honest.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
11/30/01
Jonathan Foreman
Jonathan Foreman
New York Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's polished without being slick; well-paced and graceful and brought alive by stellar performances led by Jaffrey.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
11/30/01
Kevin Thomas
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The film's style is best described as utilitarian, but it gets the job done.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
11/29/01
Maitland McDonagh
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
12/04/01
Mark R. Leeper
Mark R. Leeper
rec.arts.movies.reviews

A story to appreciate, laugh at, and cry with no matter where you or your parents came from.

Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
11/30/01
MaryAnn Johanson
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher

In this funny, touching and haunting film, Patel cuts through stereotypes to show the hard truths of straddling two cultures.

Full Review Source: Rolling Stone | comment Comment
10/08/01
Peter Travers
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating)
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