[2] The movie largely takes place in London following the September 11 attacks on the United States by al-Qaeda, and reflects a period of heightened racial tensions in Britain as well.

Their father marries Nazneen, elder of the two girls, to a middle-aged but educated man, Chanu, who lives in London.

Nazneen leaves behind her sister and her family home in Bangladesh when Chanu takes her back to the United Kingdom.

They live in a small flat on Brick Lane, the centre of the British Bengali community, and Nazneen herself has two daughters.

The film picks up the story after Nazneen and Chanu have lived in the small flat for 17 years, raising two daughters.

Brick Lane is harassed by bigoted people handing out flyers that fan irrational fears of Muslim extremists taking over the streets of London.

The Bangladeshi Muslim community in London is increasingly religious in nature, and this is reflected in the character of Karim.

Following an angry exchange with her husband, Nazneen comes to understand that her sister has been working as a prostitute; that is why she describes so many illicit affairs.

Both Christopher Simpson, who played Karim, and Chatterjee studied the Bangladeshi culture in Brick Lane by following around locals.

The film's winter scenes were shot in the middle of a heat wave in Summer 2006, which required the production team to use artificial snow.

Some traders organised against having the film company doing any production in the neighbourhood; on 31 July 2006, about 120 British Bangladeshis held a protest in Brick Lane.

[9] Others wrote letters to the editor in The Guardian and spoke in support of the film production, including the British chapter of PEN and the writer Salman Rushdie.

The site's consensus states: "Frustratingly slow-moving, but ultimately saved by Chatterjee's solid acting and Gavron's gentle patience.

[16] As a result of the earlier controversy and a threatened protest, a planned screening for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall was cancelled.

[citation needed]The film won a Silver Hitchcock and best screenplay at the Dinard Festival of British Cinema.