intriguement This indie film has a lot going for it: beautiful cinematography defying the low budget, charming locations, and a few truly profound lines. It also has Mahira Kakkar, a delightful new actress who is clearly poised to make it big. I'm glad I watched this film, since it enabled me to discover her before everyone else does! However, I found the story uninspired and disappointing.The film starts off slow. Asha is a young Indian woman attending film school in Prague. After seeing a movie at a film festival, she sends a video message to the director, who lives in New York. He sends a message back. Thus begins their friendship, portrayed entirely through their messages.Surprisingly, Asha and Hank don't discuss their shared passion (making movies, in case you forgot -- and you will, since the characters rarely mention it). In fact, they don't discuss anything much; their videos mainly consist of sampling the food in their respective towns. Kakkar brings charm and joy to her not-particularly-interesting lines, but I found Pastides too bland to redeem his bitter, self-centered character. While Asha approaches everything with enthusiasm, Hank spends most of his time making predictable complaints about his job as a reality TV lackey. However, Hank finally engaged my sympathy when he revealed his estrangement from his father. This scene is poignant, and I looked forward to a second act in which Asha would help him mend the rift. In a later scene, Asha says something like, "I know from experience that it's really hard for a parent to ask a child for help. I think you should go to him." This powerful line hints at what could have been.Unfortunately, the film backs away from this intriguing thread, choosing to focus elsewhere: Although Asha sometimes seems to flirt with Hank, nothing can ever happen between them, because Asha is getting an arranged marriage. I felt tricked. The movie barely touches on Asha's home culture or her experience as an Asian person in central Europe. She is Indian simply because the filmmakers wanted to introduce "forbidden love." This plot device feels so easy and obvious. It's so reminiscent of "Outsourced" (2006). Worst of all, the eventual resolution really doesn't add anything to what you already know about arranged marriages, India, or relationships in general. "Hank and Asha" is an uninspired story told with charming cityscapes and the reasonably clever "video message" gimmick. It's pretty and polished, but it could have been so much more.

ernest-ezis I started to watch this movie a couple months ago and stopped after a few minutes because I wasn't in a contemplative mood. I watched it tonight and I thought it was lovely. If you don't need car chases, bullets, and explosions every four minutes to hold your interest. And your disappointed by the regular pap, and you think a film like 84 Charing Cross Road or Babette's Feast is wonderful, then you will probably enjoy this film. I certainly did.If your tastes tend to 'run American', you will not like it.So choose wisely. It's a movie for the long tail. If you live there you will enjoy it. But if you think Oprah makes interesting TV, you better look elsewhere.

GeoPierpont Folks, I really had to power through on this one, primarily dull, boring and repetitive. However, the promise of a conjoinment in Paris kept me hoping for more. Given the beautiful capture of Prague and it's cityscapes, could it get even better with both of their videocams in Paris??? I'm IN!So there I was yelling at the screen...C'mon kids move it along pahleeeze! Let's have some fun in Paris, and when I observed there were just minutes remaining, I sighed knowing this was not to be. What a cop out you freaks, she is so modest but takes film of her in bed and shares many intimate moments, but FLOWERS, OMG this X-rated scene permanently scarred my soul.What a sweet concept of a growing romance between two cultures and how they overcame their differences and somehow could end up together, OK maybe at least at her wedding... But wait, there's actually more! This guy is really seXy with his Risky Business Hindi Dance and could not get a date as a PA in NYC???? Just too many non-credible variables and slow dialog that truly disappointed. Recommend for Prague capture and better than Tom Cruise undie dance. I know, low budget, but so are many prized possessions.

james-foster-963-399671 Smart, endearing, and technically innovative: Hank and Asha is a must see film. Set in Prague and New York City, Hank and Asha is a long-distance love story that will engage you, and move you. From its sophisticated storyline, to its pioneering "two-camera" shoot during which neither of the principals--Hank (Andrew Pastides) nor Asha (Mahira Kakkar)--ever were in the same location together, Hank and Asha is a stunning piece of work. One would never know that this film is James E. Duff's and Julia Morrison's rookie outing. We eagerly await their next project, even if such a sophomore project has a lot to live up to. Bravo!Jim Foster & Mindy Soules