- Actors: Nisha Ganatra, Jill Hennessy, Sakina Jaffrey, Madhur Jaffrey, Nick Chinlund
- Directors: Nisha Ganatra
- Writers: Nisha Ganatra, Susan Carnival
- Producers: Nisha Ganatra, Beverley Gordon, Herbert Beigel, Howard Gertler, Roger Kass
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Millivres
- DVD Release Date: 21 Oct 2002
- Run Time: 92 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00006SKU2
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
82,891 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
- #30 in Film & TV > Gay & Lesbian > Millivres Multimedia
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Chutney Popcorn is an amusing exploration of surrogate motherhood that never lets cross-cultural or lesbian issues overrun what is essentially a family drama. Nisha Ganatra directs, writes and takes the lead role as Reena, a New York artist and lesbian with Indian roots that include an over-indulgent mother and newlywed perfect sister, Sarita. On finding that Sarita is infertile, Reena proposes becoming a surrogate mother, not just to help out her sister but to prove to her mother that she is capable of living up to the traditional values of womanhood. The pregnancy puts obvious strain on Sarita's marriage and she begins to distance herself from Reena and the unborn baby. At the same time, Reena's live-in girlfriend Lisa (Jill Hennessy) has commitment issues; babies never being part of her life equation.
For her first feature film, Ganatra shows much promise with her ability to blend the various issues at the film's heart without becoming over-sentimental about them. Madhur Jaffrey offers a surprisingly sparky comic turn as the doting mother trying to hold on to the values of her homeland. The script is loaded towards the inevitable happy ending, which feels far too easy and upbeat, leaving the audience with unanswered questions about the future of the child. Despite such reservations, Chutney Popcorn is a spicy look into the alternative family that's more substantial than just a simple side dish. --Nikki Disney
Special Features
English
Region 2
Region 2
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a decent directorial effort by Nisha Ganatra, in this film about families, lesbian lovers, and cultural divides. This film is her first feature film and it shows in its somewhat amateurish constructs. Still, there are some flashes of promise.
Reena (Nisha Ganatra), an artist of Indian descent, and Lisa (Jill Hennessey) are lovers, despite the fact that Reena's tradition bound Indian mother is in total denial. She is still trying to match Reena up with a member of the opposite sex, refusing to acknowledge Lisa as anything other than Reena's roommate.
When Sarita (Sakina Jeffrey), Reena's older sister gets married, she soon discovers that she is infertile. Reena offers to be a surrogate mom, and Sarita initially agrees. After some failed attempts through a fertility clinic, Reena, with the cooperation of Sarita's husband, Mitch, decides to get pregnant the old fashioned way, at home by using a turkey baster. She succeeds where the specialists failed.
Unfortunately, this causes problems with her relationship with Lisa, who is initially unable to come to terms with Reena's pregnancy and what it will mean to their relationship. Sarita is also having difficulty, changing her mind when it is too late to turn back. She sees the pregnancy as a reminder of her own failing and questions the impact that it will have on her life and marriage. Reena's and Sarita's mother, however, grasps the irony of the situation, and eventually comes to terms with it, as well as with the nature of Reena's and Lisa's relationship.
Nisha Ganatra should have concentrated on just directing this film, rather than acting in it, as she is no actress and is the weak link in the cast. Moreover, there appears to be little chemistry between her and Jill Hennessey, which does not help the film. There are, however, some very funny moments in this moderately entertaining film, having mostly to do with the character of the mother.
As a director Ms. Ganatra displays some promise. It is hoped that in the future she will concentrate on where her talents seem to lie.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Don't waste your money gentle viewers, this film can't make up it's mind about what 'message' it wants to send.
The story 'reads' as if it was made up on each day of shooting, and the director can't act.
Jill Hennesy puts in a professional performance as does Madhur Jaffrey as the mother, both giving the others a master class in acting.
There are far better explorations of what it means to be a lesbian in today's world than this.
Give it a miss.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I usually make a point to always finish watching a film, even if it's not that good. I don't get bored easily but my god, this was painfully dull. The main character couldn't act and the storyline and dialogue was so predictable, I just couldn't carry on watching. Please people, do not waste your time on this one.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Disappointing...
There is, no doubt, an interesting story of family, sexuality and meeting of cultures struggling to get out of Nisha Ganatra's flat, meandering tale, but it's not one that the... Read more
Published on 20 July 2008 by unlikely_heroine
Chutney Popcorn directed by Nisha Ganatra
Chutney Popcorn is a film that is the winner of several film festival awards including those for best picture at the San Francisco and Los Angeles events. Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2002 by "ryall18"
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