The film version of Brick Lane, released on 16 November, promises to be one of the most talked about films of the year.  Brick Lane, the book, has already been an enormous international success. Monica Ali was named one of the best young British novelists and was shortlisted for the Booker prize.

The film, which follows the fortunes of Nazneen, a young Muslim Bangladeshi who emigrated to London aged 17 after an arranged marriage, has seen some of the more unsavoury characters made more appealing and the removal of some of the more violent aspects of the novel.  It has received mixed reviews.  Nevertheless, the filming has, at times, been controversial and demonstrations stopped some of it being shot around Brick Lane.  The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall also pulled out of attending the planned Royal Premiere of the film.

Monica defended herself in a Times interview, saying: "If I had portrayed all Bangladeshis as terrible people it would have made for a very weak book.  It wouldn't have served any purpose.  It concerns ideas about human nature and family bonds.  The reason for exploring the complexity of human nature is to serve the strengthening of art, not to represent each and every faction as though you were a politician.”

Monica actually had very little to do with the filming.  She told The Spectator magazine: “I thought I either have to be fully involved and try to write the screenplay myself, or I have to step away.”  She added, “I would have wanted to meddle if I had been involved at all, that wasn't the right way to go.”