Festival of Lights

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  • Opened November 2, 2012 (Limited)
  • 1 hr 42 min
  • NR
  • A father and daughter are separated but are never truly apart in this touching story of a family tragically divided. Reshma is a troubled teenager in 1980s New York who struggles to discover a sense of self and strength amidst a daunting array of pressures and betrayals. While continually grappling with her tumultuous relationship with her mother, Reshma holds on to her dreams of reuniting with the father in Guyana she has not seen or heard from in 13 years. Documentary filmmaker Shundell Prasad's ambitious feature debut, which spans two continents and three decades, offers a nuanced and empathetic lens into the plight of displaced immigrant families struggling to create a brighter future for their children. Full synopsis

  • Cast: Aidan Quinn, Jimi Mistry, Melinda Shankar, Ritu Singh Pande
  • Director: Shundell Prasad
  • Genres: Drama

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34 out of 100
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Critic Reviews

50
New York Observer
| Rex Reed

It opens our eyes to a subculture about which most of us know very little, but it is so unsteady in its focus that interest wanes. Read full review

40
Village Voice
| Nick Schager

Little girls never stop loving their daddies in Festival of Lights, a drama that never stops loving soap-opera-style melodramatics. Read full review

40
The Hollywood Reporter
| John DeFore

A novel cultural focus, highlighting Guyanese citizens of Indian ancestry, isn't enough to sustain interest in the lifeless film, which will attract few outside the Indo-Guyanese community. Read full review

40
The New York Times
| Neil Genzlinger

It ends up being largely just another story about a rebellious American teenager. Read full review

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A scene from "Festival of Lights."