David & Layla (2005)

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

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: 1/10Now 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.

The cinematography in this film is beautiful and the soundtrack is fantastic. Grab some falafel and take your girlfriend to see this tonight, you won't be sorry. This is apparently based on a true story and I could tell. There's an authenticity to the characters and the story and apparently, the director just met this couple in Paris, became friends and then made this movie about them years later.Shiva Rose excels as Kurdish fugitive, Layla, and David Moscow is charming as a local TV celebrity whose show focuses on sex and spice.Director Jay Jonroy succeeds admirably in creating a beautiful modern portrait of 'star-crossed lovers' in NYC. David and Layla is a truly inspired and memorable experience.

I find the Jewish and Kurdish culture so fascinating. They are both have given so much to the world. I've always been baffled that the story of Kurdish struggle and all the massacre and the horrific things that have happened to these people has continued to be marginalized. I applaud Jay Jonroy for going against the current to write, direct, and produce a movie that raises awareness, educates and yet manages to make the audience laugh and cry! The movie is entertaining and more importantly is based on a true story that not only shows that love is more powerful than any prejudice or misconception we have about each other, but also shows that there is more that units us than divides us. You walk out of the theater curious to learn more and that's the greatest accomplishment of Jonroy which is motivate people to think, be curious, and seek the truth! Bravo to the cast and crew of the film!

Jalal Jonroy's David & Layla is an excellent film telling a love story between a Kurdish woman and a Jewish guy. Seeing different cultures and their interactions in the film is great and especially the emphasize on the power of love in life is significant. A Kurdish American director Jonroy, masterfully construct his film that provide adequate insight about the plight of Kurdish people and their country Kurdistan. Layla, played by beautiful Iranian/American actress Shiva Rose, is a victim of Halabja massacre and is the central dramatic character of the film.Nice to see Kurdish directors living in Diasporas telling the plight of Kurds through their films. Well done Jay and hope to see your film at cinemas in Australia too.