A satirical witty look at bi-racial issues in the teeming London (and its suburbs) of the 1970's. The film is unexperimental on a cinematographic level but carried brilliantly by a well writen screenplay and superior acting.

Narrated from the perspective of a selfish young man, this is on the surface a tale of a suburban London youth trying to get laid and make it in the world.

Issues of family and commitment are looked at with a subtlety that is refreshing in a world of films that often try to beat you over the head with their moralizations.

Karim is confussed about the world around him (as young people all are) and trying to balance loyalty to his quirky family with the duality of his racially mixed background. All of this is set upon a backdrop of a young man trying to find sex and excitement and his place in the world.


superb acting by the Asian-Indian Al Pacino   October 10, 1999
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

This movie documents the struggle of Asian-Pakistani immigrants to Britain and how racism, culture and Britain in the 70s and 80s affected this family and the main character Kareem. In many ways this movie reminds me of a American movie Mi Familia that documents the life of a Mexican-American family throught the 70s to present day. It also shows that second generation people have many problems to encounter besides the usual racism and stereotypes. Naveen Andrews is a great actor and has done much for Asian-Indians all over the world. If you have an open mind watch this movie if not there's always the next blockbuster.


refreshingly faithful to the novel...   April 3, 1999
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

but perhaps thats what happens when the author writes the screenplay. no one but naveen andrews could have played creamy; no one else can possess quite the same mixture of vulnerability and endearing snottiness and manage to be so sexy at the same time. though the novel and the film are set in the 70s, the genX feeling is overwhelming, allowing me to connect w/ creamy in a way that few other protagonists in contemporary novels/film have allowed me to do. perhaps its kureishi's voice and narrative, perhaps its the presence of an arguably genX actor. but anyway you slice it, _buddha_ is a wonderfully real escape that doesnt end before youre ready--its 4 hours long!