Hank and Asha (2013) User Reviews (12)

Recommended with reservations

[intriguement · 6/10 · 25 July 2015]

This indie film has a lot going for it: beautiful cinematography defying the low budget, charming locations, and a few truly profound lines. It also has Mahira Kakkar, a delightful new actress who is clearly poised to make it big. I'm glad I watched this film, since it enabled me to discover her before everyone else does! However, I found the story uninspired and disappointing.

The film starts off slow. Asha is a young Indian woman attending film school in Prague. After seeing a movie at a film festival, she sends a video message to the director, who lives in New York. He sends a message back. Thus begins their friendship, portrayed entirely through their messages.

Surprisingly, Asha and Hank don't discuss their shared passion (making movies, in case you forgot -- and you will, since the characters rarely mention it). In fact, they don't discuss anything much; their videos mainly consist of sampling the food in their respective towns. Kakkar brings charm and joy to her not-particularly-interesting lines, but I found Pastides too bland to redeem his bitter, self-centered character. While Asha approaches everything with enthusiasm, Hank spends most of his time making predictable complaints about his job as a reality TV lackey.

However, Hank finally engaged my sympathy when he revealed his estrangement from his father. This scene is poignant, and I looked forward to a second act in which Asha would help him mend the rift. In a later scene, Asha says something like, "I know from experience that it's really hard for a parent to ask a child for help. I think you should go to him." This powerful line hints at what could have been.

Unfortunately, the film backs away from this intriguing thread, choosing to focus elsewhere: Although Asha sometimes seems to flirt with Hank, nothing can ever happen between them, because Asha is getting an arranged marriage.

I felt tricked. The movie barely touches on Asha's home culture or her experience as an Asian person in central Europe. She is Indian simply because the filmmakers wanted to introduce "forbidden love." This plot device feels so easy and obvious. It's so reminiscent of "Outsourced" (2006). Worst of all, the eventual resolution really doesn't add anything to what you already know about arranged marriages, India, or relationships in general.

"Hank and Asha" is an uninspired story told with charming cityscapes and the reasonably clever "video message" gimmick. It's pretty and polished, but it could have been so much more.

Picture perfect

[james-foster-963-399671 · 1 April 2014]

Smart, endearing, and technically innovative: Hank and Asha is a must see film. Set in Prague and New York City, Hank and Asha is a long-distance love story that will engage you, and move you. From its sophisticated storyline, to its pioneering "two-camera" shoot during which neither of the principals--Hank (Andrew Pastides) nor Asha (Mahira Kakkar)--ever were in the same location together, Hank and Asha is a stunning piece of work. One would never know that this film is James E. Duff's and Julia Morrison's rookie outing. We eagerly await their next project, even if such a sophomore project has a lot to live up to. Bravo!

Jim Foster & Mindy Soules

"Hank and Asha" - An Entertaining and Captivating Long-Distance Romance

[RMcDaniel10 · 10/10 · 25 March 2014]

"Hank and Asha" is a great film in many ways.

The caliber of writing in this small film is truly exceptional. Some of the dialog appears to be improvisational, but my guess is that the majority was written by the filmmakers and there's not a false note of dialog in the entire movie.

You would never know that this movie was filmed on a shoestring budget. The cinematography is outstanding. This film looks like anything but a low budget movie. Beautifully shot!

I can only imagine the difficulties of editing a film like this. It seems as if it was edited down to the best possible 73 minutes. Yes, it's a short film, but it doesn't feel like one. Kudos to the editor for not being tempted to turn this into a two hour movie.

Both lead actors are extremely good and believable. I fully expect to see the male lead (Andrew Pastides) in an ABC TV sitcom soon, or if not, then he could be the next Paul Rudd.

Finally, if this is James E. Duff's first film, I can't wait to see what's next. He strikes me as an extremely gifted director. Again, there is not a false note in the entire movie.

"Hank and Asha" is a must-see. Certainly one of the best independent films of 2013.

Sweet Strawberry Tonic and a Maple Light Moon

[gillian-pdx · 10/10 · 5 March 2019]

In the half-afternoon that it took me to watch this movie, I relived strawberry honey summers, the burning leaves of smoky maple autumns and the first chilling rains that drove us into winter. In exquisite/excruciating shorthand, Hank and Aisha reconnected me with all the innocence, surprise, delight, fear, daring, giddiness, joy, disappointment, empathy, passion, guilt, longing, fury, regret, heartache and a host of other teachers that taught me the tender, shocking lessons of my first loves. Story, characters, dialogue, acting, sets, cinematography - they were all just right, and the choices made by the actors felt absolutely true, again and again. I'd read descriptions and watched trailers for 20 or 30 different movies, but when I found this one, it suddenly seemed ridiculous that I'd even bothered with the others. And it was as good as it sounded - the best movie I've seen in a while, and I'll defomitely be recommending it.

Prague and Baliwood Dance 2 Stars!

[GeoPierpont · 2/10 · 16 February 2015]

Folks, I really had to power through on this one, primarily dull, boring and repetitive. However, the promise of a conjoinment in Paris kept me hoping for more. Given the beautiful capture of Prague and it's cityscapes, could it get even better with both of their videocams in Paris??? I'm IN!

So there I was yelling at the screen...C'mon kids move it along pahleeeze! Let's have some fun in Paris, and when I observed there were just minutes remaining, I sighed knowing this was not to be. What a cop out you freaks, she is so modest but takes film of her in bed and shares many intimate moments, but FLOWERS, OMG this X-rated scene permanently scarred my soul.

What a sweet concept of a growing romance between two cultures and how they overcame their differences and somehow could end up together, OK maybe at least at her wedding...

But wait, there's actually more! This guy is really seXy with his Risky Business Hindi Dance and could not get a date as a PA in NYC???? Just too many non-credible variables and slow dialog that truly disappointed.

Recommend for Prague capture and better than Tom Cruise undie dance. I know, low budget, but so are many prized possessions.

Excellent.

[vinienair · 10/10 · 6 August 2017]

I almost never rate 10 for a movie. However, this was an exception. I was a bit skeptical when the movie started because I am not one for camcorder movies but this was done nicely. The start of their relationship left me wondering if I would do something like that but what the heck. Things like this happen. The movie is realistic. It is raw and it made sense. Amazing movie and amazing actors.

The New Pen Pal Connection

[VintageSoul56 · 9/10 · 28 February 2019]

I was delighted by this indie film. I didn't even pause it and that's unusual for me. In an hour and 15 minutes, the filmmakers managed to go through almost all emotions of a new relationship with a twist that glued me to the screen. It's a cleaver connection that is used, but as I titled it, it's the new pen pal. And, the two leads, Mahira Kakkar and Andrew Pastides, knew what they were doing. Very natural acting.

If you like indie movies made on a small budget, you may like this.

Review: 'Hank and Asha', Starring Mahira Kakkar and Elias Koteas

[mae-abdulbaki · 9/10 · 12 November 2013]

This year's romantic comedies have nothing on Hank and Asha. The film gives us a new take on a topic that's been attempted several times before: long-distance relationships. The film is genuinely funny, doesn't try too hard, and isn't fantastical with its topic. First-time director James E. Duff gets it right in an age where long-distance and online relationships are all the rage in a highly connected world.

Asha (Mahira Kakkar) is an Indian girl studying film abroad in Prague. At a film festival, she sees a documentary that moves her and is disappointed when the director of the film, Hank (Andrew Pastides), isn't there to talk about it. In order to ask a question about the inspiring film, Asha tracks down his information and sends him a video message.

Hank is living in New York and responds in kind. Through video messages, they begin a heartfelt relationship that connects them to each other though they never meet face-to-face.

They're both lonely and disconnected from the physical world, but come to learn a lot about each other through questions and funny messages they leave for each other. Certain complications arise that throw a wrench in their relationship and force them to look at things a little more realistically.

This film is by far one of the most heartfelt films of the year. It's cute and funny, warm and sad. The performances, though the two actors are never in the same scene, are fantastic and extremely layered. You'll feel almost as if you were receiving messages from a friend abroad. The movie breaks racial barriers too and doesn't focus on the fact that it's doing so, which is a refreshing break from the films that make you hyper-aware of it.

The film is shot entirely through video messages between the characters. In this aspect, it's very original. We get to see two different worlds entirely through messages left in different time zones. The movie explores the loneliness of living in a new place and the struggles of maintaining human contact through online means. Through each other they learn and experience new things. Hank and Asha get to know each other better than some people do in the real world and that is one of the film's strengths.

Mahira Kakkar as Asha is the perfect choice. She's cute and awkwardly funny in a way that's entirely real. Besides being funny, Kakkar brings warmth to her scenes and can make you laugh and extremely sad depending on what the situation calls for. She'll have you rooting for Kakkar. And funny as it is to say, seeing as how the leads never appear on screen together, but they have pretty great chemistry in reaction to each other's messages.

Andrew Pastides is the average guy. He's not stereotypically suave and doesn't say charming things because he has ulterior motives. He's sweet and funny. He acts like a lot of guys actually act and it comes off as very realistic and true. His frustrated ranting is both entertaining and highly saddening in context with his and Asha's relationship struggles. He and Kakkar both work so well talking to only a camera.

Hank and Asha is easily one of the best films at the Virginia Film Festival this year. It embraces the online world in a comedic fashion, but brings it back down to Earth with its poignant realism. It's heartwarming and very lovable in a way a lot of romantic comedies can only dream of being, the cast perfect, and the story almost bittersweet. It's really a story for anyone who's ever struggled to be connected to someone in a world that's highly plugged in to cyberspace, yet somehow disconnected. Sweet, fun, and realistic.

Clever and original

[newsome317 · 9/10 · 19 June 2017]

What are lovely and tragic love story. The filming style with the back and forth video messages was not only clever but added a lot of intimacy, I really believed the characters had a connection. I guess I was hoping for a happy ending but I should have knew halfway through the movie it was likely not to happen. It's a little disappointing but it was a wonderful movie.

Soul mates of vastly different culture correspond via videos.

[TxMike · 14 November 2016]

I found this interesting little movie on Amazon Prime streaming.

It plays upon the notion that people from diverse backgrounds can connect when they find something in common, but cultural differences are usually difficult to overcome.

Indian actress Mahira Kakkar is Asha, about 25, she is an aspiring filmmaker going to school in Prague.

American actor Andrew Pastides is Hank, also in his 20s, also an aspiring filmmaker. He moved to New York for a year to see if he can make it there. When this story takes place he is driving a van as an errand boy.

Hank has made a short film and it is shown in Prague where Asha see it. She likes it and is curious about the filmmaker and contacts him.

Most of the movie is about Hank and Asha alternately sending each other videos, the modern equivalent of sending letters back and forth. They seem to have a lot in common, and when Hank finds out Asha always wanted to go to Paris he makes arrangements for them to go and meet there. But there is a hitch, Asha just got engaged, it is an arranged marriage, it was a deal she made with her mother to allow her to go to school in Prague.

Will Hank and Asha go to Paris anyway? Will they find they have so much in common that Asha cancels her Indian wedding? We wonder all these things as the story unfolds. I am glad I came across this small movie, it is different and interesting.

SPOILERS: As they get closer, from a distance, Hank begins to get upset at the situation, his culture finds it distasteful that a bright young woman would agree to an arranged marriage. He still seems to have hopes that when they meet in Paris they both will realize they belong together. But it never happens, Asha tells Hank she will not go to Paris after all to meet him, she "just isn't that type of person." She intends to stay committed to the arrangement.

Delightful

[ernest-ezis · 9/10 · 17 March 2015]

I started to watch this movie a couple months ago and stopped after a few minutes because I wasn't in a contemplative mood. I watched it tonight and I thought it was lovely.

If you don't need car chases, bullets, and explosions every four minutes to hold your interest. And your disappointed by the regular pap, and you think a film like 84 Charing Cross Road or Babette's Feast is wonderful, then you will probably enjoy this film. I certainly did.

If your tastes tend to 'run American', you will not like it.

So choose wisely. It's a movie for the long tail. If you live there you will enjoy it. But if you think Oprah makes interesting TV, you better look elsewhere.

What a hidden gem!

[rosedickens · 10/10 · 12 August 2020]

I just discover this movie this week. It's a shame it's been around for seven years. I was just amazed by the sensibility and delicacy of it. Such a common story of online love told in such a beautiful and realistic way. I see people complaining about the ending, but for me it was just perfect. Having had a similar relationship, it makes sense completely. Love the actors and would like to see more of them. I was just checking for other movies of the director and was so frustrated that this seems to be his only work so far.