My Own Country

I am surprised that I hadn't heard of this film before I stumbled onto it on Hallmark. It is directed by Mira Nair, who was responsible for Salaam Bombay and Mississippi Masala, and stars Naveen Andrews who was so good in the English Patient. And also features Marisa Tomei and her brother Adam, and the excellent Glenn Headly. A great cast doing great work.

This is the story of a young Indian doctor in Tennessee treating various people living with HIV/AIDS. Their stories are beautifully intertwined with his because he relates to their sense of ostracism - his because he is Indian and theirs because they have a disease that is much misunderstood.

The diversity of the stories is impressive - a straight man who contracted it through a transfusion, an elderly gay couple who have been together all their lives but engaged in recreational sex outside the relationship, a married bi-sexual and his wife, and a single gay man from a very religious family. The story of the gay couple is especially moving and unique in movies.

The acting is universally fine and the direction and script very strong. It's also a true story, which makes it even more worthwhile. Excellent.