Anita and Me

Films focusing on India and Indian culture are becoming ever more popular these days, with those set in Britain (East Is East) especially trailblazing for the vital British indie film market. Anita and me is another in the same mould as East Is East, following an Indian family in the Midlands of the 1970s.

Meena is the daughter of Indian parents who've come to England to give her a better life. However, her life is upset when Anita Rutter and her family moves into the village. The blonde, beautiful Anita becomes Meena's role-model and friend, something that she has to cope with as she starts to grow up and reaches adolescence.

The cast are uniformly excellent (many of whom are already familiar from tv roles) and the script well written, while the film's wonderful mix of pathos and hilarious comedy makes it a thoroughly enjoyable, poignant and touching exploration of Asian life in Britain.