Gifted Director Shamin Sarif boldly returns with a vibrant modern-day, Sapphic tale of two successful women who summon the courage to challenge their cultures in the name of love.

Fresh off last year’s successful romantic period piece set in South Africa (The World Unseen, PIGLFF 2008) drop-dead gorgeous Lisa Ray and stunningly beautiful Sheetal Sheth return as lesbian lovers in the charming I Can’t Think Straight. Tala (Ray) is a black sheep. With her own business in London, and engaged for the fourth time, she is generally a thorn in the side of her traditional, Jordanian and Christian family. Leyla (Sheth) is the shy, ideal Indian daughter with the perfect boyfriend who always does the right thing. Both women are on conventional life paths until they meet, when an instant attraction ignites a fast friendship. One fervent night, sexy Tala and doe-eyed Leyla act on their desires in a scene that lights up the screen, but the encounter comes at a price. These are two women yearning to fall in love for the first time, but it will not be easy for either one to accept their newfound sexuality. Director Shamin Sarif’s contemporary lesbian storytelling is entertaining, beautiful and incredibly intimate; it will remind you what falling in love is all about. -- Kelly Burkhardt