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46 out of 49 people found the following review useful: Mysterious Layla dances gracefully amid farcical characters!, 22 September 2005 Author: FrenchView from France
Shiva Rose as 'Layla' gives the best performance in this surprisingly delightful and enlightening mixed-genre 'romance, comedy, drama.' Against the continuing wars in the complex Middle East, this is a timely comedy of a Jewish Muslim romance evidently inspired by a true story. Shiva plays the innocent young Kurdish 'village princess.' A recent refugee in Brooklyn (New York), Layla is a war survivor. Millions of refugees uprooted from their homelands will identify with Layla's predicament trying to keep her culture while adjusting to a new life in the West. Layla refuses to play a victim. Instead, with enchanting oriental femininity, she dances in a night club- secretly from her conservative folks who think she's attending nursing school. Layla brings a welcome touch of grace and mystery to the zany shenanigans of this multi-layered story with political undertones. She quickly became my emotional anchor amid the farcical religious and political quid pro quos of prejudices and stereotypes. No wonder Layla becomes the object of David's mad desire! The arousing desire for the 'unobtainable" drives this film's fast-paced plot from its captivating opening sequence – setting up Manhattan and the two opposing sides across the Brooklyn bridge - to its unusual happy ending. Layla with her long "night black hair" –as the singer in the club describes her- dances sensually with her bracelet clad arms while fully dressed down to her bare feet. What a contrast to David's wealthy Manhattan fiancée, the pretty, smart, kick-boxing, fast Abby, played convincingly by Callie Thorne!? Poetic Layla embodies the modesty and the entrancing femininity of the oppressed women of many parts of Asia and the Islamic world. She expresses with dignity the tragic history of her people; and she subtly introduces David and us to glimpses of the rich, suppressed culture of her homeland. Look for the quaint Kurdish wedding with its amazing colorful costumes, food and exuberant music- and surprise baklava stirring the Jewish side to join in to dance to Hava Nagila! Throughout the film, the mélange of colors and authentic Middle Eastern, Kurdish, Jewish Klezmer, and Jazz music are used to tell the story: East and West clash then gradually reconcile. By the way: Where had Shiva Rose been hiding before her wonderful lead in this film? She's got quite a career coming to her!
41 out of 45 people found the following review useful: A humanist's feast!, 21 July 2005 Author: galjoyous (galjoyous@yahoo.com) from Brooklyn, United States
In "David and Layla", writer/director Jay Jonroy has crafted a film that bursts with practical idealism regarding how people coming from two vastly different cultural/religious backgrounds come to accept, if not "understand" one another. Jonroy is dealing with fire in many ways, but manages to create a story that is personal, allowing the universal themes to be brought down to Earth, intimately. I've never seen a film that makes New York City look so unbelievably alive, raw, and romantic: the music, colors, "incidental" street scenes, vastly diverse and quirky cast are not to be missed. It's as if Moliere wrote a farce with a well-needed political punch.
39 out of 42 people found the following review useful: All You Need is Love!, 22 August 2005 Author: filmic11223 from United States
A modern tale for the ages. Told with genuine tenderness and respect for both sides of the coin, "David & Layla" is the love story of a Muslim woman and a Jewish man. Peppered with interesting historical tidbits of information and unexpected laughs, the movie's strength lies in the fact that Jonroy has a healthy respect for his characters and never takes a side other than basically saying "Forget all the petty nonsense in the world. All you need is love.". Moreover, Jonroy never condescends; everyone and their relative perspectives are treated with equal respect (no small feat, considering the subject matter!). The writing, directing and acting are superb. If you want a break from the usual Hollywood dreck, go see this movie. It's a welcomed breath of fresh air.
37 out of 40 people found the following review useful: sweet story, spicy topics, 10 August 2005 Author: Anna Griepentrog from United States
This film was a perfect combination of love and politics. Not an overload of either kept the story moving and interesting. The tension between David's family painted a picture of Jewish life in America. Layla tries to hold on to her roots in a new country. Both gracefully accept their plight and fight to be together. This is more than a story of lovers who can't be together. Arguments of whose people have been through more surface throughout the film. Everyone can relate to the feeling of having to prove and deal with suffering. Food mixes the story up, showing the effects of what we eat and how we love. It seems a spicy diet is best for romance, which in turn leads to overall happiness. If politicians ate more spice perhaps they wouldn't be so bitter. We can only hope this catches on! Layla was outstanding; beautiful and captivating. The characters were all intelligent and funny. A quick pace kept the film hilarious and informative. This is the kind of movie you take everyone to see.
35 out of 37 people found the following review useful: I love It!, 22 September 2005 Author: parismovies from France
I had translated "ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND" into French subtitles at TITRA FILM subtitling company in Paris. TITRA gave me a DVD of "DAVID & LAYLA." I previewed it and immediately emailed to the writer/director, Jay Jonroy, declaring "I LOVE IT!" Actors are great; dialogs sparkle; photography is marvelous; Layla/Shiva Rose is gorgeous; David/David Moscow is very charming; their parents are very funny; Abby/Callie Thorne is very, very good, too...all in a meaningful modern Romeo & Juliet comedy/drama with "a mille feuilles"- a story with a thousand "layered" ideas." I discussed the general style and flavor of subtitles by 'phone with the director. Then I had fun preparing the French subtitles. Later, Jay flew to Paris. He speaks French. We revised the subtitles a few times. Now, Jay says the film with French subtitles is even better and funnier. Felicitations to the filmmakers et bon courage! Maï from Paris.
33 out of 34 people found the following review useful: David and Layla is a comedy about the sparks that fly when a Jew and a Muslim fall in love., 17 August 2005 Author: SFarkhondeh from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
David and Layla is a brave and fabulous film that manages to combine love, romance and comedy with real issues that no one else has dared to speak about, and all this without being didactic or preachy. I enjoyed this film thoroughly and have been waiting for something like this for a long time. With a luscious visual language, David and Layla takes the viewer on a journey through the hard land of bi-cultural love and misunderstandings. Through the personal experience of David, a Jewish news anchor and Layla, a sensuous Kurdish, Muslim woman seeking asylum in the US, we learn to appreciate the ridiculousness of the conflicts between their Jewish and Muslim families. But eventually love wins, heals the wounds and brings the two families into a new appreciation of each others cultures.
33 out of 35 people found the following review useful: Cinema of Life!, 7 August 2005 Author: cmastronardi from United States
In a time when the term "Romantic Comedy" causes a gagging sensation to reflex from myself as I think of recent cliché Hollywood inventions such as "Must Love Dogs" and "40 Year Old Virgin", it is a film such as "David and Layla" that gives me cause to have faith; faith that a film can be topical, romantic, sincere, true to life and do so without tipping the balance of any essential element what so ever. The film is inspired by a true story and brings up many political issues that face our daily lives without ever giving the condescending preachy sense documentaries often engage upon. The humor is funny, and when I say funny I mean actually funny; because the characters feel real. Every character in this film is a gem. I myself am not of Judaic upbringing, but found the Jewish father to be hilarious and a favorite. The pacing of the film is just right, nothing lasts too long and not a second is to be missed. Towards the end of the film I had the urge to pee, the urge came and immediately went because the film sucked me right back in; JUST AS A GOOD FILM SHOULD DO, and yet so many films today don't. "David and Layla" inspires you, grabs you and tickles you all at once. It's a reminder of why we pay the 8-10 dollars to see a film. A fantastic film I'd gladly see again and recommend to anyone who loves the cinema of life!
30 out of 33 people found the following review useful: A Unique New York Romantic Comedy, 17 August 2005 Author: danwatkins4 from United States
I had the chance to see David & LAYLA recently and was pleased to discover a film that is endearing as it is funny. On one level, the story is a touching (and often hysterical) love letter to New York City and the cultures that make it such a fascinating, difficult and wonderful place. On another level, it is a great comedy; it seems to succeed in everything from Woody Allen-esquire wit to slapstick. But at its core is the love story between Jewish David and Muslim Layla. As their relationship progresses, one can't help hope that stories like theirs would some how redeem the Jewish-Muslim conflict. I can't think of the last time I went to a film that made me think, laugh, AND was a great romantic comedy date movie! A sexy, intellectually stimulating, funny film is just so rare-David & LAYLA made for a wonderful film experience.
32 out of 37 people found the following review useful: A Boldly Relevant & Intelligent Romantic Comedy That Is Timely & Timeless!, 2 October 2005 Author: DayHeads from United States
I rarely see anything as good, as fresh, as relevant, and as funny as David & Layla. For our troubled times, there does not seem to be a film out there as topical as this. A bold New York independent film that amazingly succeeds in mixing romantic comedy with the tragic background of Layla- a new immigrant to America. Sensual Muslim Layla is the orphan survivor of 'Kurdish 911': the ill-known Saddam's gassing of her hometown, HALABJA, in which her family was among the 5000 murdered. Now a refugee in New York, the stunning, graceful & vulnerable Layla with her big innocent eyes, delicate hands, and hypnotic oriental dancing, becomes Jewish David's obsessive "love at first sight." There follows a fast sending up of the similarities and the differences between the two cultures that ends with the two sides finding they have a lot more in common humanity than they had ever imagined. Alluring SHIVA ROSE as mesmerizing Layla and charming David MOSCOW as resourceful David lead a talented ensemble cast. The gifted CALLIE THORNE (RESCUE ME- yes please!) is a dazzling gem as kick-boxing Abby. Abby is David's dominating, neurotically sexy Upper East Jewish princess fiancée. PETER VAN WAGNER as Mel, the "Jewish Archie Bunker", is wonderfully memorable; as is his mirthful, wise-cracking gay son Woody (David's younger brother) played convincingly by WILL JANOWITZ- a rising talent to watch. Instead of playing JUDIH, the Jewish wife, satirically like her husband MEL (or like the mischievous support characters in TV Seinfeld) POLLY ADAMS plays her Judith sometimes too "truthfully"- dramatically correct. This renders Judith to be somewhat of a melodramatic but still credible, albeit stereotypical, Jewish mother. Alexander BLAISE mischievously plays French Francois, David's ironic cameraman and passionate amour expert who pines to taste women like Layla as if they were delicious dishes (oysters & papayas!) Layla's Kurdish family is acted believably by a marvelous, if mostly unknown, ethnic cast. This is remarkable when one learns that Layla's Kurdish family is played by no less than six different nationalities: Layla (Irish American Persian); Goofy, political Uncle Ali (Lebanese); Attractive Zina the feminine, resilient wife (Indian); Layla's mature relative, spiritual Howar, the Tanbur musician who's secretly in love with Layla (Egyptian); the hormonal handsome peeping Farhad 'Fred' (American); and Aftaw Khan, Layla's lovable, wise old aunt (Armenian.) This inspired "Kurdish" casting is in itself quite an achievement by this first-time director who apparently could not find Kurdish actors in New York. The Imam is played sincerely with due dignity by the noble Egyptian actor, HANY KAMAL, who in reality is the father of Joseph KAMAL - who impressively plays Howar, the Kurdish musician! According to the IMDb bio, the New York-based writer/producer/director, JAY JONROY - who has lived in London, San Francisco, LA, Rio and Paris - gave up executive career to study acting & photography in London. Later, he learnt screen writing craft and film-making at UCLA, USC and AFI. Multi-lingual JONROY is an ex-fashion photographer, an amateur art collector, music player and a world music collector. No wonder the film is a sumptuous & subtle mélange of authentic colors – of sets and costumes - and of ethnic music of both sides, together with sound bites of Manhattan jazz and buzz- all used to contrast, underscore and move this unusual New York love story. Distinctive cinematography – framing and movement by turn poetic, playful, energetic, even hectic, to express the emotion or comedy of each scene - is by HARLAN BOSMAJIAN, famous for the highly successful independent, "LOVELY & AMAZING" starring Brenda Blethyn, Katherine Keener et al. Watch out for a seductive and hilarious long sailing boat ride out in the open waters. Boat scenes, especially sailing boats, are expensive and tricky stuff to shoot, so usually not attempted in independent movies. (Hitchcock's three 'hates' to film: dogs, babies and boats!) The hitherto unknown Editor, EGON KIRINCIC, will surely be noted for his lively, well-paced editing: you blink and this daring mixed-genres 110-minute film is over, leaving you wishing to see it again! This enlightening romantic comedy of clash and reconciliation of deadly opposing cultures is optimistic, timely and timeless. I can't wait to see it again, next time I hope in public theaters.
27 out of 28 people found the following review useful: A must see, 8 July 2005 Author: yeranium from United States
I saw a screening of this film at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. The film was a refreshing deviance from a lot of the more heavy handed political films out there. David and Layla succeeds in capturing a new type of emotion indicative of both lead characters and their lifestyles which are ethnically diverse but similar in that they share this common bond of living in an American city where one can stay true to their roots but be free spirited as well. The film was an entertaining experience containing many truths. Jonroy skillfully manages to blend love, politics and comedy whilst keeping the overall theme grounded in reality. Additionally, one should not miss the stand out performances of Ed Chemaly and Will Janowitz.
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