it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It's the type of film that makes you think and allows you to open your mind. Unfortunately, religion has separated many people, caused wars, and killed an unfathomable amount of innocence. Jay incorporates much symbolism, wit, character, and charm into this film portraying that love can conquer all if one can keep an open mind and live life embracing the good in all that exists. Many of us have been raised in America but come from deep cultural roots. We are the first generation dealing with many changes, having to adapt to our new "home" but living our lives by our parents' standards and traditional values in a society that challenges us daily.Many of us play two different roles at home vs. being out in the society we live in. In the end......we follow what's in our hearts.

Acting is pretty bad at times. The music is lovely. The close-minded Jewish parents are almost unbearable to watch at times. The basis for their romance is weak and no, it's not like Romeo and Juliet because a) nobody dies b) at no point in the movie is a tension developed enough to create the drama c) it's a "comedy" d) there's no social rivalry between the families, just ethnic prejudices.This film really gets the subject of Muslim identity and relations out in the open, which is such a refreshing thing to see. On the other hand, the writer and director is Kurdish and is using the film, in part, to voice his frustration with what he irrationally dictates are political and social realities in the area (he's not at all objective and it takes a dreadful lot out of what was at all good in the movie!). What he doesn't realize when he writes lines into his movie is that many people have died at the hands of Kurdish terrorists and that in situations like this many other countries would have been quick to bomb Northern Iraq 20 years ago.What I am saying here is that you may like this film and that's great. But I wouldn't trust the writing on political issues because it's all but lies given the fact that important context is missing.

This was the first time in my life that I left the theater before the end of the movie. I just couldn't bear it. You can watch a bad movie and enjoy it for the sake of badness. This was not one of them. This was truly bad, in the sense that it wasn't watchable.This movie is supposed to be, and advertised as, culturally aware and actually promote diversity awareness. On the contrary, its political standing is completely based on stereotypes, superficial knowledge about Middle Eastern cultures, and normalization of hate speech and sexual abuse.There are a lot of offensive and hateful comments about different cultures and identities and these are shown as normal or funny. For example, David makes an offensive comment that stereotypes Muslims ("Have you seen a peaceful Muslim?"), and gets away with it. When Layla asks for explanation, he just ignores and does not try to defend his position; he does not apologize either. The relationship between the main characters is also strange. In their first date, David is drunk and it is clear that his attitude toward the female character would be legally considered as sexual harassment. However, this is presented as romantic and Layla is shown to enjoy it. Moreover, I did not understand why the Kurdish girl is required to "speak English very well" (and this is explicitly mentioned in the movie) to deserve to be loved by an American man.It is an amateur movie in terms of cinematography and acting, and this makes the lack of depth in the intellectual content even more unbearable. The sex jokes are so immature that they are tasteless, if not offensive.

I attended a screening of David and Layla in London at the Kurdish Film Festival.Many emotions were put into play, the teasing sexual tension,brilliant script and first class choice and mix of music left me wanting more. The delicate handling of the tragic real life suffering of the Kurds under Saddam's years and a romantic comedy following David and Layla's love story are a credit to the director Jonroy. The costumes,the colours and the sound track added the spice to this very entertaining and well paced production.Excellent acting all round, but especially Shiva Rose as Layla, resulted in a film I loved and would highly recommend.