Bicycle Bride

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!

"She who succeeds in gaining the mastery of the bicycle will gain the mastery of life." So said Susan B. Anthony, one of America's best-known feminists of the 19th century. Twenty-year-old Beena is a product of America and not just any America but the one in San Francisco, California, a traditional spot for self-reinvention. Beena is now twenty and her Indian immigrant mother Billo has decided that she's ripe to be a bride, as Shakespeare might put it. Like many a first-generation American, Beena has other ideas, one of which is to master the unstable and highly metaphoric contraption known as a bicycle while another is to attend college and yet another is to become better acquainted with James Dean, a dishy student from Sweden who probably endures the inevitable jokes about his name with Nordic stoicism. It's a traditional immigrant's tale with a comic and lighthearted touch, not to mention some exceptional costumes and a wedding dance scene both joyful and mildly erotic, a celebration of human life and its presumed continuance.

I thought the film was very well written. I remember laughing throughout the movie. If I had to critique it, I would say the story could have moved a little faster. I felt that it was crawling along at times. Perhaps speeding the end up would move the story along and keep the entertainment value high throughout the entire film.

Overall though, I think Bicycle Bride is a fun and delightful movie. I would recommend it to anyone wants to learn a bit about Indian culture, but still wants to find a few laughs along the way. This movie definitely succeeds in intertwining relevant issues with comedic anecdotes and romantic undertones.

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 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.