---
title: "Brick Lane: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/brick-lane/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/brick-lane"
critics_score: 58
critics_reviews: 12
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Brick Lane (2007): what the critics said

Critics' score 58 from 12 reviews: 5 positive, 4 mixed, 3 negative.

## Radio Times — Susannah Straughan

Rating 4/5. 

The review praises Sarah Gavron’s accomplished debut for capturing the spirit of Monica Ali’s novel. It singles out the film’s adaptation of the novel as its central strength.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-0qj974/brick-lane/)

## Empire — Anna Smith

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 28 October 2007. 

Smith finds the adaptation sensitive, intelligent and involving, presenting a sober portrait of immigrant life. She particularly praises the sympathetic depiction of Nazneen and Chanu’s routine relationship.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/brick-lane-review/)

## The Guardian — Mark Kermode

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 2 March 2008. 

Kermode finds the film heartfelt and ultimately uplifting despite its slow burn and flaws. He praises its vibrant sights and sounds and its affirmation of independent sisterhood and self-determination.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/mar/02/drama.romance)

## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2007. Festival review. 

Honeycutt finds the film shrewd, poignant, and warmly observed, with its themes handled subtly rather than melodramatically. He particularly praises the performances, singling out Tannishtha Chatterjee’s expressive portrayal of Nazneen.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/brick-lane-159070/)

## Screen Daily — Allan Hunter

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2007. 

The accessible text does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It notes the source novel’s blend of personal and political themes, but the review is behind a paywall.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/brick-lane/4034494.article)

## The AV Club — Tasha Robinson

Rating C+. 19 June 2008. 

Robinson finds the film slight and overstuffed, though worth a look for its avoidance of obvious choices. She praises its sensory portrayal of the protagonist’s memories, while criticizing the director’s distracting visual flourishes.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/brick-lane-1798204454)

## Time Out — Cath Clarke

Rating 3/5. 10 October 2007. 

The review finds the adaptation graceful but overly polite. It singles out the film’s day-by-day portrayal of lives as graceful, while suggesting that its restraint limits the story.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/brick-lane)

## Total Film — Total Film

Rating 3/5. 16 November 2007. 

The review finds the adaptation sensitive and colourful, but ultimately unoriginal in its insights about multicultural Britain. It praises Tannishtha Chatterjee’s delicate performance as Nazneen, which helps offset weaker performances and the story’s claustrophobic feel.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/brick-lane-review/)

## Variety — Robert Koehler

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 September 2007. Festival review. 

Koehler finds the adaptation dramatically incoherent and less affecting than the novel. He praises Satish Kaushik’s portrayal of Chanu, whose unexpected depth makes him more interesting than the comparatively flat Nazneen.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/brick-lane-1200556391/)

## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez

Rating 1/4. 2 June 2008. 

Gonzalez pans the film as tawdry and reliant on caricature. He especially faults its romanticized style for misrepresenting the lives of its subjects.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/brick-lane/)

## IndieWire — Indiewire

Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2008. 

The critic finds the adaptation banal and emotionally shallow, failing to capture the novel’s nuance. Satish Kaushik’s portrayal of Chanu is singled out as a memorable strength.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-buy-the-book-sarah-gavrons-brick-lane-72215/)

## Eye for Film — Jeff Robson

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 October 2007. 

Robson finds the film serious, perceptive and rewarding despite its flaws. He praises its sensitive, even-handed exploration of cultural identity and the Muslim community’s response to hostility.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/brick-lane-film-review-by-jeff-robson)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/brick-lane.md