Brothers in Trouble

This English melodrama about the travails of illegal immigrants (mostly from Pakistan) is certainly well-intentioned, but unfortunately it's somewhat of a clunker. The first half, which depicts in meticulous, loving detail the arrival and gradual semi-assimilation of Amir in 1960's Britain (Pavan Malhotra, superb), is both expert and engrossing, eschewing narrative in favor of a kaleidoscopic portrait of a fragile community. When the plot finally does kick in, though, it's a doozy: a perky, enmity-inspiring white lass (Angeline Ball, very perky indeed) begins an affair with unofficial clan leader Hussein (the great Om Puri, underutilized), leading to bitter rivalries, recriminations, murder, madness--the works, and all of it about as credible as an average week of As the World Turns. Optional. (M. D'Angelo)