Marriage of a Thousand Lies

Marriage of a Thousand Lies by SJ Sindu is the tale of breaking away from what your family expects, to be yourself.

Lucky (Lakshmi) is married to Kris (Krishna). They are both gay. In their families, you grow up and get married - that is the only option that does not bring embarrassment on your family.

Lucky and Kris are friends. Their arrangement is that they can date other people. They live far from their families and do what they want.

When Lucky's grandmother falls, she goes home to help her mother take care of her. When she gets home, all of the rules she had when she was a kid are back in place.

While she is home, her best friend from high school comes over - Nisha was also Lucky's first girlfriend, with whom she is still in love.

Sindu has written a rich story of going against others wishes to be who you need to be for yourself, and the consequences of that choice.

Sindu, SJ. (2017). Marriage of a Thousand Lies. New York: Soho Press.

Movie: Ira & Abby

Jennifer Westfeldt has done it again with her latest film - Ira & Abby. Her first film, Kissing Jessica Stein, was great and this new one is just as quirky and fun.

Ira and Abby meet at a gym. He is there to change some things in his life, and she is the salesperson responsible for getting new business.

After talking for hours, Abby asks Ira to marry her. After all, half of marriages end in divorce, so why is it any crazier to get married to a stranger.

What follows is a struggle to get to know each other that provides a commentary on marriage as it is in the world today.

Westfeldt has once again made a comedy with a point - to comment on a part of our society. And she does it in a way that is not preachy or judgmental.