Chutney Popcorn

Writer-director Nisha Ganatra also stars in her ultra-low-budget feature film debut as Reena, an Indian photographer and henna tattoo artist living in Brooklyn who offers to carry a child for her infertile sister. Reena's lesbian squeeze isn't exactly thrilled by the idea, while her tradition-bound mother hopes the pregnancy will somehow set her straight. Ganatra manages to get in swipes at bisexuals, political correctness, and other easy targets, but her direction is kind of listless and her character development a bit underdone. While offering a worthwhile attempt to examine changing social and cultural roles, Chutney Popcorn ultimately leaves too many of its kernels unpopped. Definitely optional. (T. Rich)