newsome317 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.

intriguement 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.

james-foster-963-399671 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

RMcDaniel10 "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.