Little Box of Sweets (2008)
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50% of critics liked it
(6 reviews) -
50% of users liked it
(306 ratings)
In lieu of a by-the-numbers Bollywood film, this Indian-produced effort from director Meneka Das represents a throwback to the arthouse-style films of Satyajit Ray and Bimal Roy. The tale unfurls in the 1970s, where Seth (Joe Anderson), the racially-mixed son of a Caucasian mother and Indian… More In lieu of a by-the-numbers Bollywood film, this Indian-produced effort from director Meneka Das represents a throwback to the arthouse-style films of Satyajit Ray and Bimal Roy. The tale unfurls in the 1970s, where Seth (Joe Anderson), the racially-mixed son of a Caucasian mother and Indian commissioner father, returns to India from school in Britain and experiences a joyous reunion with Asha (Meneka Das) a friend from childhood. Asha, as it turns out, was orphaned as a young girl, and happens to attend an all-girls' school where one of her teachers is Sheila (Helena Michell), Seth's mother. Over a short period of time, Seth and Asha's relationship blossoms from a renewed friendship into full romance, which draws the ire of both of Seth's parents and prompts them to interfere - thus setting the stage for tragedy. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Directed By
- Meneka Das
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
- In Theaters
- Sep 9, 2007 Wide
- Studio
- OceanSonic Pictures
Critic Reviews
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David Jenkins, Time Out
It's a dull, if competently made, film, which is done no favours by its earnest tone, a soppy orchestral score and a slew of artificial performances by actors clinging far too tightly to their lines. It would be far better suited to daytime TV.
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Derek Malcolm, This is London
If it lacks the power of real drama, or a radical sense of style, it doesn't stint on the difficulties a peasant girl probably still faces when getting on in life.
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Rob Daniel, Sky Movies
An enjoyable debut for two disgustingly talented sisters, on the basis of this Meneka and Sheenu Das deserve a long future as that rarest of beasts - a female filmmaking duo.
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Cath Clarke, Guardian [UK]
Meneka Das, a British-based Indian actor, has written and directed a love story that is polite, proper and just a little flat-footed, although beautifully shot in Uttar Pradesh.
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Wendy Ide, Times [UK]
Sugar-coated and naive, Little Box of Sweets is an Indian coming-of-age story that feels firmly mired in the colonial melodrama of the Merchant Ivory era.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Joe Anderson
as Seth
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Meneka Das
as Asha
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Sheenu Das
as Lalli
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Helena Michell
as Sheila
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Rahul Vohra
as Dev
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Mohini Mathur
as Nani
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Raj Zutshi
as Nana
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Tilotama Shome
as Lara
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Naved Akhter
as Michael
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Asmon Fredrick
as Anand
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Priyanka
as Priyanka
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Yohan John
as young Seth
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Ashwarlya
as young Asha
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Adelene Dutta
as Lalli's aunt
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Uttam Das
as Uttam Chacha
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Arthur Singh
as priest
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Pooja Chaturvedi
as Inder