Bicycle Bride

Bicycle Bride is an independent film full of life, love and laughter. The story takes place in scenic San Francisco where Beena, an Indian-American girl (played by Melanie Kannokada) falls for James Dean (Andreas Wilson), a Swedish man. Although Beena and James deeply care for one another, Beena's family has other plans for her. Beena's mother has arranged for her to marry an Indian man named Bubba. The conflict between Indian tradition and western feminism sets the table for this riotous comedic gem.

However, Bicycle Bride is much more than a romantic comedy - it is also a social commentary about gender roles in the Indian culture and the tradition of arranged marriage.

So go see Bicycle Bride! It will make you smile, it will make you laugh and it might even make you think!

A perky Rom-Com in the best traditions of that genre, Bicycle Bride is a movie you can't afford to miss. The characters are funny, endearing, and totally zany; one can't help but feel drawn to them. The movie breezily mixes social message with humorous, irreverent titillation, leaving the viewer concurrently blithe and thoughtful. The performers do a fantastic job, emoting very convincingly. The pace is mellow without feeling drawn out or dragging, and the script is refreshingly witty. The one potential drawback is the cinematography, but even this adds a rustic charm and in some ways enhances the film's appeal. I highly recommend this as a Friday night romp-it's sure to set a very cheerful tone for your weekend.

Bicycle Bride is a surprising combination of meaningful themes and funny, campy moments. There are hilarious details reminiscent of Almodovar films, especially the wig-wearing older female and prankster friend of the lead. "James Dean" is a surprising name for someone from Sweden, but the lead character's sincerity and serious charm are a nice contrast to the other characters. I particularly liked the writing and portrayal of the lead female's mother. Bicycle Bride is both funny and uplifting. Director Zee has a lot of promise, reminding me again of Almodovar at this point in his career. It will be interesting to see what's coming next from Zee.

Bicycle Bride is a family oriented film with all the elements of a high drama and comedy. This movie takes you on a one woman's journey who is struggling to maintain past cultural values and family happiness against fast changing cultural norms in a foreign land. The motional journey between her and her educated daughter is worth watching on the big screen.

This movie reflects a nice blend of Eastern traditions and Western culture. It has color, richness and sensitivity depicted beautifully.

In terms of performance and direction, everybody has done an exceptional job. The leading ladies, Shruti and Melanie, have done an amazingly wonderful job with their character and Hassan has invested his heart and soul to make this a wonderful and entertaining movie for the masses.

My boyfriend took me to a screening of the film a few weeks back and, I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed Bicycle Bride. It was lighthearted and zany at times, but it was also very touching at others. Apparently, the tradition of arranged marriage is still alive and well in the US. I had no idea until seeing this film that the practice was so common here. It was interesting to see dynamic between the main character Beena and her traditional Indian mother as they seek out happiness for themselves and for each other.

While at the screening, I had the pleasure of meeting the Director of the film, Dr. Hassan Zee. Dr. Zee's story is truly inspirational. Before moving to the States He was a practicing doctor in a burn unit in Pakistan. While working at the burn unit he met several women who set fire to themselves because they felt they had shamed their families. When Dr. Zee came to America to pursue his dreams of being a filmmaker, he brought the memories of those he helped along with him.

It is evident from my brief encounter with Dr. Zee that he is an impassioned individual with a great appreciation for life. This passion reverberates throughout his film Bicycle Bride. The film is about love and relationships but it is also a lesson in courage and female empowerment. Bicycle Bride is smart, sweet, funny, and above all… super entertaining!