Handful of Henna

Synopsis

Being dragged by her mother back to the family village thousands of miles away is no fun for 13-year-old Nasreen. In the monsoon rain and unable to text her friends, she little expects what will be uncovered on her first visit. But with the mystical power of henna, a secret garden of buried dreams, and more than a little help from the wagging tongues of aunties, grandparents and neighbours, she is about to discover some unexpected truths about her mother. Based on real stories of Muslim women, this is a joyous and moving story about lives lived across two cultures and one girl’s journey to understanding her mother. Skipping back and forth across time, four actresses create a bustling, colourful world bursting with music, dance and family celebration.

Our Review:

27 March 2010

In Muslim culture henna is given mystical attributes. As well as symbolising fertility, it is used to decorate brides and to ward off evil. Concerned that the heritage of past generations might be forgotten, author Rani Moorthy uses the substance to link a series of tales that explain to 13 year old Nasreen (Rochi Rampal) how her mother Saheeda (Bharti Patel)  changs from a mischievous child to a fretful woman whose fears force her family to adopt a nomadic existence.

If Handful of Henna has a fault, it is that its duration is a little too short to explain fully the genesis of Saheeda. Her story ends at the point where she marries and we never really learn how that event contributed to her development. But this is a minor flaw in a rich and evocative tale that lyrically conveys the joys of childhood and contrasts them with the horrors.

In an effective piece of storytelling we learn that the chores undertaken by Sahe...

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