David & Layla (2005) User Reviews

OK but not what I expected

[dcctx04 · 6/10 · 27 September 2007]

Just by reading some reviews and descriptions, I knew I was going to walk into a movie filled with stereotypes and some political messages. What I didn't expect is that I would be crept out by the lack of true romance and love. I honestly got the impression that David purely wanted sex and Layla purely wanted the green card and they met somewhere in the middle. Sure, love can develop and it may have in their real-life story but you wouldn't really get that from the movie. Just when you think the characters will surprise you with a valiantly romantic gesture, they let you down with the sort of banal behavior one might find in the real world. Basically, I was pulled from all directions ... ethnic stereotypes, deadly politics, and ethically weak characters. I would expect a message of love would come through to rescue the viewer from all the other depressing stuff but there was barely a hint of it.

I couldn't help but think that David didn't deserve her at all and that sort of ruined some of the grander points that were pain-stakingly being made. I'm sorry but that's how the movie made me feel.

Political & Sexy Entertainment: Even women fall for Layla and her cause!

[lafilmbuff · 22 December 2005]

Do you want a change from Hollywood's formulaic films? Wait until you see this new independent film from New York. Last summer I saw it at a UCLA "cultural diversity" test preview with a large mixed Jewish Muslim American audience, including lots of us- regular or irregular Americans! This screening was organized by UCLA's Center for Near Eastern Studies, apparently sponsored by Jewish, Arab, Kurdish and Iranian foundations. The film turned out to be a clever, political, and thought provoking, mixed-genres 'Romantic Comedy', generating a few sad tears and lots of smiles and laughs! The audience loved the film.

Set in Manhattan and Brooklyn, it's a stimulating and believable love story, evidently inspired by a true Jewish Muslim romance: A sort of 'West Side Story' or 'Romeo & Juliet', sprinkled with religious issues & political dialogs re. contemporary Middle East. It finishes with an ambiguous, though altogether human, Happy Ending! The male lead David (DAVID MOSCOW) is charming and funny.

The best surprise is the female lead: the poetic, dancing Layla (SHIVE ROSE.) Her Layla is so lovely and graceful that even women fall in love with her, and her cause! Shiva, a Persian American actress, was in the audience with her Hollywood actor husband, Dylan McDermott, the TV star of THE PRACTICE. She joined the director for a lively Q & A afterward. Shiva said to bring the plight of divided Kurdistan – and the genocide/gassing of 5000 Kurds in Halabja by Saddam - to the world's attention was one of the reasons she was wanted to play Layla.

It's refreshing to see on film such a strong, intelligent and complex female lead as Layla from the Middle East/Islam world. Sadly, due to censorship, lately the films from Iran and the Middle East tend to be mostly about men and especially about sweet or tragic children. The instinctual feminine strength, and the natural shapes and graceful movements of women are covered by Fundamentalists' religious laws. Women are restricted to minor, one dimensional support, pretty & passive roles. Or at best, women are reduced to attractive faces with talking mouths- while their heads of long hair - the playful mysteries of which drove painters & poets to ecstasy - remain covered; while their feminine, fertile bodies are shrouded in uniform funeral black; and while their passionate hearts are caged by men's pious Laws!

Becoming more and more liberated, Layla speaks her mind, dances and drinks wine! Watch out for her incidental (or accidental?) breathtakingly beautiful Marylyn Monroe moment- a 360 degree dazzling night scene of Layla dancing at Times Square! That is enough, as anyone familiar with the Arab and the Islamic world would tell you, for their conservative or cowardly governments – fearful of fundamentalists' wrath – to ban this film from being distributed in any Arab and Islamic country. (Possible exceptions are Turkey and the newly "free" secular Kurdistan in northern Iraq.) Ironically, this film will be super popular in the Arab & Islamic societies, especially among their oppressed women and youth. Overtime, the film should build a huge cult following on underground DVD & cable and satellite TV broadcasting from the 'free' world to the Middle East and Islamic countries. (During the Q & A, a couple of Kurds, mistaking this fictional film for a documentary, complained that not all Kurds are Muslims!)

The great ensemble support cast of mixed American and ethnic character actors is directed convincingly. Scenes and dialogs in this fast-paced film are fresh: original scenes, bits of history and culture, relevant ideas and witty or scathing dialogs, and tough issues...you are unlikely to have seen or heard before. And the sex scenes are by turn: funny, wild, romantic or exciting!

Towards the end, look out for a colorful Kurdish & Jewish ethnic wedding, with an unexpected & daring symbolic exchange! From the opening sequence to the ending credits, the captivating music (Jewish Klezmer, Jazz, and Kurdish and Iranian music) touches the heart and tickles the funny bone.

I hear the film is being shown at festivals & universities, waiting to be picked up by a distributor for general release. As another IMDb User has commented, the film plays with fire: it will ruffle feathers among the industry and festival power players who are mostly used only to see one side of this story shown in a positive light; and who are used to Hollywood films where religious conversion happens only in one "politically correct" direction.

Anyway, can't the 'gate keepers' take, the (ironic) religious conversion in this film, not literally, but as a convenient sacrifice by lovers for the sake of love?

Let's hope a distributor will find that for the general American and international audiences, this Jewish Muslim meaningful Romantic Comedy could be the next "Bend It Like Beckham" or "My Big Fat Jewish Muslim Wedding", with spicy politics, and a strong message of peace, that will also attract those seeking a bit of intelligence with their entertainment!

Worse than your typical bad movie

[helena_hawkins · 1/10 · 10 November 2012]

Let me start by saying that I watch a lot of movies. I try to watch a broad range of movies, from the terrible flops to cinematic masterpieces. I'm honestly not too picky when it comes to movies; I basically expect a movie to provide entertainment and to engage me, whether it's comedy, or a romance, or a deeply moving and provocative film that leaves me thinking for hours afterward. So essentially what I'm searching for is a movie that involves me somehow - even if I'm just relating on the most basic levels to characters or situations.

This movie failed to deliver any of my basic requirements. I'd be surprised if it fulfilled anyone else's desires or expectations, but I saw quite a number of good reviews for this movie on here. My question is, HOW did those other people become engaged with this film?

First of all, the characters in this movie are, at best, lifeless. The acting is stilted, but even if we overlooked that, the characters themselves are flat and don't seem to have any realistic qualities or depth. The Jewish characters in this movie are depicted as selfish and immature to a nonsensical extent. Their main preoccupations seem to be money and sex. David himself fails to reveal any human qualities beyond a childish attitude toward everything. The Muslim characters in this movie are portrayed in a much more favorable light, but are equally undeveloped.There is not one character in this movie who isn't insipid and unrealistic.

Second of all, having a fairly intimate understanding of both Jewish and Muslim culture allows me to see all the hilariously misconceived or at least overly generalized traditions and attitudes of both families. It seems as though the screenwriters took some big ideas from each religion's tradition and slapped them clumsily into the film, thinking it would lend an authentic, informed quality to the film. Instead, it made me wonder if they had ever met a Muslim or a Jew. The tidbits of information about both groups were laughable in their lack of perception.

Which leads me to my next problem with this movie; it clearly attempted to be funny but had no liveliness or wit. I gave the movie 1 star because I laughed in two places, but they were remarkably unmemorable. It also tried to be moving in parts, but it missed the mark in that area as well. Overall, the plot does not flow and it has no original ideas to offer. I found myself waiting to be engaged the entire movie; I should have given up in the first ten minutes when I realized that this movie was so poorly done, but I can't leave any movie unfinished.

This isn't even one of those movies that can be enjoyed for its low quality. I would not recommend this movie to anyone; it doesn't even achieve the level that a typical bad movie achieves. My suggestion is to find a bad movie that at least can be laughed at for its terrible quality. This movie does not even reach that low standard.

don't fall for it ... incompetent script meets card board characters.

[breninbrooklyn · 1/10 · 19 February 2008]

Imagine if Borat wrote a romantic comedy about a love affair between a Jew and a Muslim. Now you got it. This foreign writer/director's script about and a love affair in the USA is profoundly bad. I saw this with the writer/director and he openly admits that he never made a movie before –IT SHOWS! Let's start with the plot: David is so taken by the slow-mo vision of Layla walking that he must win her heart. Hilarity is supposed to ensue, right? If splitting your pants, being impotent or gay, and using hard drugs is funny to you. And this is the very Borat-ness of the movie: instead of romantic high jinx the writer/director makes David's stunts creepy, his motives shallow and he is pretty much devoid of any redeeming qualities. (Ok fine mister director, David does interrupt an attempted rape of Layla. "hey baby, where ya going?" Great dialog!) The characters are also bizarrely mismatched. David is a dangerously stupid, impotent, self-castrated man-child who is sexually and emotionally abused by his overbearing girlfriend. This is funny to you, right? Wait for the kicker! The are Jewish! Layla is a beautiful dark and mysterious, independent, Kurdish-Muslim woman whose family/community were brutally killed by Turkish and Iraqi forces (and the ignorance of the West). This is funny too, right? The funny in this movie is creepy and the serious is stacked on top like a mountain of cold fish. And this is a shame too. The Kurdish struggle is serious, here you get the feeling that he wanted to create a vehicle to show these pictures of gassed children. Polemic disguised as romantic comedy.

Disturbingly, every Jewish man in the movie is either, impotent, gay, or a fat buffoon, while the Islamic characters are all helpful and try to do the right thing. (I'm an atheist -full disclosure. And coincidentally, I am friends with many of the Muslim shop keepers along Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn that figure prominently in the movie.) Jewish ritual is depicted with trivial scenes that do not reflect any depth of faith. Rather they are shown as sweaty, drunken, shekel-counting Americans. If you're thinking you know where this is going, you probably do. Islam is shown reverently. Muslims make funny faces in surprise sometimes, but their depth of belief is clear. In case the viewer is too stupid to get what is going on here, they make sure the Jewish mom faints on her way into the Synagogue when her big-money real estate deal falls through. The director said it took 18 years to make the film, go figure.

laughing, violence, conflict, dancing--yup, it's a wedding!

[Kevin_Maness · 7/10 · 13 August 2007]

David and Layla is a romantic comedy, a light-hearted and optimistic take on the star-crossed lover theme that so often ends in tragedy. David, a Jewish-American man, falls in love with Layla, a Kurdish immigrant who hopes to stay in America (after the death of her family at the hands of Saddam Hussein). When their families find out, hijinks ensue.

I imagine some people will find the movie un-funny, if not offensive, because the couples work out or gloss over their differences in order to get married. In the "working out" process, there is enough to make people on all "sides" of the issues represented feel slighted. In America, especially, people tend to gravitate to the extremes when it comes to their understanding of middle east conflicts: either we know (close to) nothing about it, or we feel that such serious matters should never be joked about because they're too dire.

Jonroy chooses a middle way. His movie repeatedly acknowledges the centuries of conflict between Jews and Arabs and between Jews and Muslims, and it even pauses to provide some straight-up education about the oppression of the Kurds in Turkey and Iraq, especially. That's somewhat bold for a romantic comedy, but he walks the fine line well. Jonroy's comedy doesn't depend on ignoring, belittling, or (God forbid) posing simplistic solutions for these problems. Rather, the local, romantic celebrations in this movie are joyous in spite of the hideous and exhausting violence that forms a sort of context for them. One character sums up the movie's "philosophy" when she says something like, "tolerate the differences, and enjoy life" (I'm paraphrasing—don't remember the exact wording). Toleration, in this case, doesn't mean pretending they're not there; it means seeing them, fighting about them, crying and yelling about them, and dancing at a wedding anyway. To me, that's what comedy is about.

I was reminded of Sullivan's Travels while watching this movie (and while listening to the director talk about it afterward). In Sullivan's Travels, a comedic filmmaker decides to make a serious film about the "plight of the poor" in America. After striving to understand the experience of poverty in America, he decides to make a comedy instead, realizing that his gifts would be better used in providing laughter in an unfunny world than trying to "make a statement" that would only tell the poor what they already knew while telling the rich nothing they cared to understand.

David and Layla fits into that tradition—it's a comedy that says, "the world is hard, and its problems can't be solved by a movie, but let me remind you that there is still love, there is still joy, and there is still dancing." When it comes right down to it, the movie is much more about love, sex, celebrating, and family than it is about "politics." P.S. Many of the comments on IMDb refer to a sort of "beta" version of the movie that made the festival circuit last year (2006). This (summer 2007) version is complete, so it's production values are generally better, and the music for the score is finished.

A shallow movie pretending to be culturally aware

[zuluf · 1/10 · 5 October 2007]

This was the first time in my life that I left the theater before the end of the movie. I just couldn't bear it. You can watch a bad movie and enjoy it for the sake of badness. This was not one of them. This was truly bad, in the sense that it wasn't watchable.

This movie is supposed to be, and advertised as, culturally aware and actually promote diversity awareness. On the contrary, its political standing is completely based on stereotypes, superficial knowledge about Middle Eastern cultures, and normalization of hate speech and sexual abuse.

There are a lot of offensive and hateful comments about different cultures and identities and these are shown as normal or funny. For example, David makes an offensive comment that stereotypes Muslims ("Have you seen a peaceful Muslim?"), and gets away with it. When Layla asks for explanation, he just ignores and does not try to defend his position; he does not apologize either.

The relationship between the main characters is also strange. In their first date, David is drunk and it is clear that his attitude toward the female character would be legally considered as sexual harassment. However, this is presented as romantic and Layla is shown to enjoy it. Moreover, I did not understand why the Kurdish girl is required to "speak English very well" (and this is explicitly mentioned in the movie) to deserve to be loved by an American man.

It is an amateur movie in terms of cinematography and acting, and this makes the lack of depth in the intellectual content even more unbearable. The sex jokes are so immature that they are tasteless, if not offensive.

David and Layla is a comedy about the sparks that fly when a Jew and a Muslim fall in love.

[SFarkhondeh · 10/10 · 17 August 2005]

David and Layla is a brave and fabulous film that manages to combine love, romance and comedy with real issues that no one else has dared to speak about, and all this without being didactic or preachy. I enjoyed this film thoroughly and have been waiting for something like this for a long time. With a luscious visual language, David and Layla takes the viewer on a journey through the hard land of bi-cultural love and misunderstandings. Through the personal experience of David, a Jewish news anchor and Layla, a sensuous Kurdish, Muslim woman seeking asylum in the US, we learn to appreciate the ridiculousness of the conflicts between their Jewish and Muslim families. But eventually love wins, heals the wounds and brings the two families into a new appreciation of each others cultures.

Boring, full of ethnic and gender stereotypes

[anonreview2 · 1/10 · 29 November 2013]

This film's idea has promise -- romance between Muslim & Jew in New York, families dead-set-against the star-crossed lovers, refugee facing deportation, etc. But the execution is horrible, and seems to have milked every ethnic and gender stereotype there is.

David comes across as a shallow an unsympathetic character... with an every worse girlfriend (pre-Layla). She treats him as a sex object (the classic 1950s-stereotype, just with genders reversed), he lacks any sense of responsibility, and 5 minutes after bad sex she throws him out. Yawn.

David's family are shown as fitting the 1950s stereotypes of Jewish Americans all too well. Parents overeager for wedding, bad jokes about plastic surgery, etc. Yawn.

Then we meet Layla... who is shown as a sensuous middle-Eastern dancer, dark and mysterious... but facing deportation from the US. She stars in the one good scene we saw, where David (doing sidewalk interviews for his TV show) accosts her on the sidewalk and asks her about her sex life. She responds by slapping him and walking away.

I watched this with my husband on netflix instant-play, and after 10 or 15 minutes we were so bored we stopped the movie. For once we're in complete agreement on our rating: 1/10

Now that we've seen at least the start of this film, the IMDb user review by "b s" ("don't fall for it ... incompetent script meets cardboard characters", 19 Feb 2008) seems all too true.

One of the best

[denizekici · 10/10 · 17 November 2005]

David and Layla is one of the best movies I have ever seen. The movie is an excellent harmony of both tragedy and comedy. As many viewers pointed out after the movie, I think the core issue here is that the movie targets to the most important part of us; our humanity; no matter whether we are Christian, Muslim, or Jewish or no matter what our political stand is... we are all human beings when it comes to love. Therefor, David and Layla reminds me of Nietzche's philosophy and its Dionysian instinct; the battle between being Apollonian (rational) or being Dionysian (irrational). If you are Apollonian you care much about the artificial side of life or of yourself; your religion, your race, your political stand, your party and so on. However if you are Dionysian, you do not care much about these things, by contrast, you can sacrifice them for the sake of love, for example. You can disregard this artificial side of the life or you can make compromise between the two sides (Apollonian and Dionysian) as David and Layla do. I think this is what we badly need nowadays.

A breakthrough and sadly full of propaganda

[emilyalp · 3/10 · 29 January 2008]

Acting is pretty bad at times. The music is lovely. The close-minded Jewish parents are almost unbearable to watch at times. The basis for their romance is weak and no, it's not like Romeo and Juliet because a) nobody dies b) at no point in the movie is a tension developed enough to create the drama c) it's a "comedy" d) there's no social rivalry between the families, just ethnic prejudices.

This film really gets the subject of Muslim identity and relations out in the open, which is such a refreshing thing to see. On the other hand, the writer and director is Kurdish and is using the film, in part, to voice his frustration with what he irrationally dictates are political and social realities in the area (he's not at all objective and it takes a dreadful lot out of what was at all good in the movie!). What he doesn't realize when he writes lines into his movie is that many people have died at the hands of Kurdish terrorists and that in situations like this many other countries would have been quick to bomb Northern Iraq 20 years ago.

What I am saying here is that you may like this film and that's great. But I wouldn't trust the writing on political issues because it's all but lies given the fact that important context is missing.

All You Need is Love!

[filmic11223 · 10/10 · 22 August 2005]

A modern tale for the ages. Told with genuine tenderness and respect for both sides of the coin, "David & Layla" is the love story of a Muslim woman and a Jewish man. Peppered with interesting historical tidbits of information and unexpected laughs, the movie's strength lies in the fact that Jonroy has a healthy respect for his characters and never takes a side other than basically saying "Forget all the petty nonsense in the world. All you need is love.". Moreover, Jonroy never condescends; everyone and their relative perspectives are treated with equal respect (no small feat, considering the subject matter!). The writing, directing and acting are superb. If you want a break from the usual Hollywood dreck, go see this movie. It's a welcomed breath of fresh air.

Mysterious Layla dances gracefully amid farcical characters!

[FrenchView · 10/10 · 22 September 2005]

Shiva Rose as 'Layla' gives the best performance in this surprisingly delightful and enlightening mixed-genre 'romance, comedy, drama.' Against the continuing wars in the complex Middle East, this is a timely comedy of a Jewish Muslim romance evidently inspired by a true story. Shiva plays the innocent young Kurdish 'village princess.' A recent refugee in Brooklyn (New York), Layla is a war survivor. Millions of refugees uprooted from their homelands will identify with Layla's predicament trying to keep her culture while adjusting to a new life in the West. Layla refuses to play a victim. Instead, with enchanting oriental femininity, she dances in a night club- secretly from her conservative folks who think she's attending nursing school. Layla brings a welcome touch of grace and mystery to the zany shenanigans of this multi-layered story with political undertones. She quickly became my emotional anchor amid the farcical religious and political quid pro quos of prejudices and stereotypes. No wonder Layla becomes the object of David's mad desire! The arousing desire for the 'unobtainable" drives this film's fast-paced plot from its captivating opening sequence – setting up Manhattan and the two opposing sides across the Brooklyn bridge - to its unusual happy ending. Layla with her long "night black hair" –as the singer in the club describes her- dances sensually with her bracelet clad arms while fully dressed down to her bare feet. What a contrast to David's wealthy Manhattan fiancée, the pretty, smart, kick-boxing, fast Abby, played convincingly by Callie Thorne!? Poetic Layla embodies the modesty and the entrancing femininity of the oppressed women of many parts of Asia and the Islamic world. She expresses with dignity the tragic history of her people; and she subtly introduces David and us to glimpses of the rich, suppressed culture of her homeland. Look for the quaint Kurdish wedding with its amazing colorful costumes, food and exuberant music- and surprise baklava stirring the Jewish side to join in to dance to Hava Nagila! Throughout the film, the mélange of colors and authentic Middle Eastern, Kurdish, Jewish Klezmer, and Jazz music are used to tell the story: East and West clash then gradually reconcile. By the way: Where had Shiva Rose been hiding before her wonderful lead in this film? She's got quite a career coming to her!

A must see

[yeranium · 10/10 · 8 July 2005]

I saw a screening of this film at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. The film was a refreshing deviance from a lot of the more heavy handed political films out there. David and Layla succeeds in capturing a new type of emotion indicative of both lead characters and their lifestyles which are ethnically diverse but similar in that they share this common bond of living in an American city where one can stay true to their roots but be free spirited as well. The film was an entertaining experience containing many truths. Jonroy skillfully manages to blend love, politics and comedy whilst keeping the overall theme grounded in reality. Additionally, one should not miss the stand out performances of Ed Chemaly and Will Janowitz.

Cinema of Life!

[cmastronardi · 10/10 · 7 August 2005]

In a time when the term "Romantic Comedy" causes a gagging sensation to reflex from myself as I think of recent cliché Hollywood inventions such as "Must Love Dogs" and "40 Year Old Virgin", it is a film such as "David and Layla" that gives me cause to have faith; faith that a film can be topical, romantic, sincere, true to life and do so without tipping the balance of any essential element what so ever. The film is inspired by a true story and brings up many political issues that face our daily lives without ever giving the condescending preachy sense documentaries often engage upon. The humor is funny, and when I say funny I mean actually funny; because the characters feel real. Every character in this film is a gem. I myself am not of Judaic upbringing, but found the Jewish father to be hilarious and a favorite. The pacing of the film is just right, nothing lasts too long and not a second is to be missed. Towards the end of the film I had the urge to pee, the urge came and immediately went because the film sucked me right back in; JUST AS A GOOD FILM SHOULD DO, and yet so many films today don't. "David and Layla" inspires you, grabs you and tickles you all at once. It's a reminder of why we pay the 8-10 dollars to see a film. A fantastic film I'd gladly see again and recommend to anyone who loves the cinema of life!

sweet story, spicy topics

[agriepentrog · 9/10 · 10 August 2005]

This film was a perfect combination of love and politics. Not an overload of either kept the story moving and interesting. The tension between David's family painted a picture of Jewish life in America. Layla tries to hold on to her roots in a new country. Both gracefully accept their plight and fight to be together. This is more than a story of lovers who can't be together. Arguments of whose people have been through more surface throughout the film. Everyone can relate to the feeling of having to prove and deal with suffering. Food mixes the story up, showing the effects of what we eat and how we love. It seems a spicy diet is best for romance, which in turn leads to overall happiness. If politicians ate more spice perhaps they wouldn't be so bitter. We can only hope this catches on! Layla was outstanding; beautiful and captivating. The characters were all intelligent and funny. A quick pace kept the film hilarious and informative. This is the kind of movie you take everyone to see.

A humanist's feast!

[galjoyous · 10/10 · 21 July 2005]

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.

check it out

[xsomelikeithot · 10/10 · 21 July 2005]

I really enjoyed watching David and Layla, it was a treat . I would recommend this movie for everyone. It is nowhere near your average silly predictable romantic comedy. The actors are amazing, the characters seem interesting and real. It's a captivating story is full of joy, but it doesn't forget about suffering. It manages to explore love, sex, pain, sorrow, family, passion, and hope in a nearly perfect balance. There are a lot of beautiful shots, the dancing is absolutely stunning. This delicious film is rich with flavor, music, and culture ...and oh yeah and I fell in love with Layla!

-alexa

-this is you life and it's ending one minute at a time-

I love It!

[parismovies · 10/10 · 22 September 2005]

I had translated "ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND" into French subtitles at TITRA FILM subtitling company in Paris. TITRA gave me a DVD of "DAVID & LAYLA." I previewed it and immediately emailed to the writer/director, Jay Jonroy, declaring "I LOVE IT!" Actors are great; dialogs sparkle; photography is marvelous; Layla/Shiva Rose is gorgeous; David/David Moscow is very charming; their parents are very funny; Abby/Callie Thorne is very, very good, too...all in a meaningful modern Romeo & Juliet comedy/drama with "a mille feuilles"- a story with a thousand "layered" ideas." I discussed the general style and flavor of subtitles by 'phone with the director. Then I had fun preparing the French subtitles. Later, Jay flew to Paris. He speaks French. We revised the subtitles a few times. Now, Jay says the film with French subtitles is even better and funnier. Felicitations to the filmmakers et bon courage! Maï from Paris.

Not to be Missed. . .

[awatkins6 · 10/10 · 20 August 2005]

The film begins with a captivating sequence that draws you immediately into the cultural conglomeration of New York City. A powerful message of racial reconciliation presented with wit and realism, David and Leyla invokes thought, laughter, and beauty. The relationships seemed organic and unforced as well as the connection between David Moscow and Shiva Rose. I was especially moved by the soundtrack interwoven throughout each scene. The brassy, sultry composition provided a moving companion to the story itself and created an all-encompassing reality for the viewer as we are taken into the Muslim and Jewish cultures of New York.

Cheers to Jay Jonroy!!!

[linkb4u · 9/10 · 11 August 2005]

I truly enjoyed "David and Layla", not only for it's charm and wit, but because of the melange of characters and the cultural awareness their story provokes. As a contemporary love story, it is poignant and relative to the crises our world faces today. This film proves that, despite any cultural differences, true love can manifest into a peaceful union of two sides.

The unique talents of David Moscow (David) and Shiva Rose (Layla) are outstanding, and I anticipate seeing them in other roles in the future. Director Jay Jonroy thoroughly explores every emotional aspect of love and war between two divided cultures. With success, he cleverly brings the two together. I hope everyone is fortunate to see this special film and appreciate it as much as I do.

Timely, thoughtful, unafraid to make social comment

[elainevk · 10/10 · 13 November 2005]

David and Layla is a very timely film, not only in USA but in many countries in the world where refugees who seek asylum are faced with the inevitable difficulties of integrating not only into established societies but with other refugees of different ethnicities and religious beliefs.

Humour leavens and yet underscores the serious difficulties encountered by the young couple although at times it is used a little too heavily and borders on slapstick.

The film makes strong political comment through simple statement of fact - who were Saddam's major supporters anyway? There is valuable use of archival footage: stark, black and white sequences that contrast sharply with the colourful and sometime flamboyant costumes and decor in David and Layla's story. We wonder if the colour and the flamboyance may be transient - will they disappear in a return to suffering? The best of human nature prevails when the very differences are recognised as similarities, surprising even the protagonists. That David and Layla are real people and this is based on their true story makes the film even more poignant.

The acting is routinely strong with the roles of Layla and David's Jewish father superbly played.

I hope David and Layla gets major distribution that takes it to other countries such as England and Australia where it would resonate equally.

A long due friendship

[kamalartin · 9/10 · 3 September 2005]

Jonroy has been able to combine tragedy, comedy, and romance to show the very delicate life experiences of a Jewish-Kurdish lover couple. The director summarizes the history of Jewish and Kurdis people that includes not only past friendships and past tragic experiences of Ausshwitz and Halabja but also achievements, joys and prides of these people. He cleverly opens up the sensitive issue of sexuality which still might be considered a taboo or even a "sin" in the Middle East, an unavoidable sin as creating a friendship between Jews and Kurds. In short, the couple's life in the movie symbolizes the history of two less wanted ethnicities in the Middel East who are long due to work together toward a common goal.

K. Artin

Boy am I happy I brought my fiancé and his family to see this!

[morganblake2005 · 10/10 · 8 November 2005]

"David and Layla" was the best movie I have seen in years. It was very well written, has beautiful cinematography, and I was completely entranced for the entire movie. I felt closer to my fiancé and his parents after we shared this serious yet uplifting comedy. The characters are beautifully shaped, and speak and interact the way real people do, when they are being themselves. It felt like a journey through the universal waters of love and destiny. The score is delightful, and blends seamlessly with the action or mannerisms of the characters. This film deals with very current and political issues, and manages to treat these difficulties with humor, love and humanity. Highly recommend...

Truly magnificent

[bancair · 10/10 · 17 November 2005]

The story itself is inspirational, the acting is heart warming, and the music truly uplifts you. The movie inspires you to connect with others no matter what nationality, religion or culture. The joy, the laughter, and the tears that it brought me were felt by almost everyone in the audience. It definitely unites us and help us to see our oneness. I believe Mr. Jonroy has done a wonderful job of sparking love in every human heart. Layla presents the beauty of a typical Persian woman full of sensuality, yet a true lady who sticks to her standards with integrity. The food represents warmth, and the spice in it sparks love and passion; somehow the importance of food and spice reminded me of 'like water for chocolate.' Layla's clothing were of the beautiful colors of the East – Persia and Kurdistan – where colors are signs of life and passion. Oh, and the music is what completed the picture.

A Unique New York Romantic Comedy

[danwatkins4 · 10/10 · 17 August 2005]

I had the chance to see David & LAYLA recently and was pleased to discover a film that is endearing as it is funny. On one level, the story is a touching (and often hysterical) love letter to New York City and the cultures that make it such a fascinating, difficult and wonderful place. On another level, it is a great comedy; it seems to succeed in everything from Woody Allen-esquire wit to slapstick. But at its core is the love story between Jewish David and Muslim Layla. As their relationship progresses, one can't help hope that stories like theirs would some how redeem the Jewish-Muslim conflict. I can't think of the last time I went to a film that made me think, laugh, AND was a great romantic comedy date movie! A sexy, intellectually stimulating, funny film is just so rare-David & LAYLA made for a wonderful film experience.