David & Layla (2006)

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.

David & Layla is a grab bag assortment of humor, romance, and politics unlike anything I've seen. There's something for everyone as the film seamlessly transcends genres, ethnicities, and emotions. The lead actress, Shiva Rose, turns in a beautifully inspired performance and the cinematography, editing, & original score are top-notch. The script is witty and poignant with genuinely engaging characters. Highly recommended.

Cute cute film. Glad I had a chance to see it. I have a soft spot for romantic comedies, but this one struck me as different. First of all, there's an undeniable intelligence in the writing. That's not something you would expect from a run-of-the-mill romantic comedy. It's a Jewish and Muslim romance, but thankfully that isn't used as a gimmick for cheap jokes. I could tell the writer really thought out the possibilities of bringing the two cultures together, and it's really well done. The film isn't afraid to delve into politics, but it doesn't allow itself to get mired in it, because there was always a witty line or clever scene reliably around the corner. Performances strong too. I hope I see more of Shiva Rose (she plays Layla) in the future. I highly recommend this.