Mississippi Masala

Mina (Choudhury) is an Indian immigrant to small-town Mississippi, a humble motel worker whose family was expelled from Uganda by Idi Amin. She meets Demetrius (Washington), the owner of a struggling cleaning business, when they get into a fender-bender. After an awkward start, a tender romance grows as they navigate the complex reactions of their families, the racism of the Deep South, as well as financial hardship. Washington and Choudhury’s smouldering chemistry is infectious. Roshan Seth and Sharmila Tagore are outstanding as Mina’s parents – their traumatic history, told via flashback, adds unusual richness to Nair’s touching, beautifully crafted tale of multiculturalism, familial bonds and defiant love.