Ae Fond Kiss DVD Review:

As few original ideas that there seem to be these days, it is a sad fact that we must expect to see many ideas done over and over again. The only hope, aside from the few original films, is to hope that when the same idea is done over and over again, every once in a while someone will find a way to make it unique in its own way. Yet another Romeo and Juliet storyline, A Fond Kiss is predictable in every way the plot is concerned, yet still manages to be fresh. It brings new life to the classic story by using a new setting and original characters.

Casim is a second generation Pakistani living in Glasgow, leading a life which makes his family very happy. He is scheduled to marry his first cousin because it will make his parents happy, and that is the most important thing in his culture. Everything is turned upside when Casim meets Roisin, a teacher from his sister’s school. Roisin and Casim quickly fall in love despite the fact that she is a white woman and his parents will never approve.

There are many scenes of struggle as Casim and Roisin fight to get the other to understand their ways. A turning point for the film takes place when Roisin is pressured by the Catholic school she teaches at. They insist that she must agree to stop seeing Casim out of wedlock or she will lose her job. At the same time Casim makes the decision to leave his parents house and call off the wedding.

There isn’t much about this film which incredibly original, and yet there is a freshness to the characters and the honesty which they possess. A Fond Kiss received awards for Best Actress, Best Screenplay, and Most Promising Newcomer at the 2004 British Independent Film Awards, and deservingly so. It isn’t that the material is new, but more importantly, how it draws us in, and A Fond Kiss has the ability to bring you into the character’s lives with emotional precision.

A sweet love story in which nobody is perfect, A Fond Kiss is the Romeo and Juliet for all of the romantics who always hoped for a happier ending. The DVD is well produced, despite the lack of special features. The menus are romantic and fitting with the soft score playing in the background. There are subtitles which may come in handy for audiences that may have trouble with the accents. This is a subtle story which may never reach wide recognition despite the accuracy in which the story is told.



Ryan Izay