“Americanish”

(USA)

Screened at the 30th annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (4/5)

Though somewhat uneven, predictable and formulaic, this otherwise-delightful rom-com about the budding love lives of two Pakistani-American sisters and their immigrant cousin pleases on virtually all counts. This charming debut feature from writer-director Iman K. Zawahry explores the triumphs and challenges of balancing career, impending marriage, entrenched tradition, overbearing relatives and evolving values, and it does so with insight, candor and gentle humor, successfully fusing the traditional romance and cross-cultural assimilation genres. Watch for more from this filmmaker given the great start she has had with this release.