Based on the novel by Meera Syal, Anita & Me—a charmingly offbeat comedy built around cultural clashes and the generation gap—is set in the early 1970s and tells the story of 12-year-old Meena (played by adorable Chandeep Uppal), an Indian immigrant living in England with her eccentric family, whom Meena finds hopelessly embarrassing. Desperate to fit in, she tries to befriend local “it” girl Anita Rutter (Anna Brewster), a sassy, blonde, and beautiful 14-year-old whom Meena thinks is the coolest kid in town—unlike Meena who's grappling with hormonal surges, entrance exams, and the tumult of a new baby brother at home. Director Metin Huseyin does a fine job of depicting Meena's confused and chaotic life, as well as her yearning for the social status attained with seeming effortlessness by the aloof Anita, and the two young leads both deliver nuanced performances. Of course, much of the humor here derives from the setting—today, we're just far enough removed from flared jeans, glam rock, and Afro haircuts to appreciate how nutty the ‘70s really were. Recommended. (E. Hulse)
Anita & Me
Image, 92 min., not rated, DVD: $19.99 Volume 21, Issue 6
Anita & Me
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