I Can't Think Straight

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A semi-autobiographical 2008 LGBT film by Shamim Sarif, starring Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sheth.

In the upper echelons of traditional Middle Eastern society, Reema and Omar prepare for the marriage of their daughter Tala. But back at work in London, Tala encounters Leyla, a young British Indian woman who is dating Tala's best friend Ali. Tala sees something unique in the artless, clumsy, sensitive Leyla who secretly works to become a writer. And Tala's forthright challenges to Leyla's beliefs begins a journey of self-awareness for Leyla. As the women fall in love, Tala's own sense of duty and cultural restraint cause her to pull away from Leyla and fly back to Jordan where the preparations for an ostentatious wedding are well under way.

As family members descend and the wedding day approaches, the pressure mounts until Tala finally cracks and extricates herself. Back in London, Leyla is heartbroken but learns to break free of her own self-doubt and her mother's expectations, ditching Ali and being honest with her parents about her sexuality. When Ali and Leyla's feisty sister Yasmin help throw Tala and Leyla together again, Tala finds that her own preconceptions of what love can be is the final hurdle she must jump to win Leyla back.

Tropes used in I Can't Think Straight include:

• All Lesbians Want Kids: The film ends with Leyla telling Tala they must have kids. She seems to want this primarily as a means of compromising with her family that is not 100% happy with her being gay.
• Coming Out Story
• Creator Cameo: "Amina" at the book signing is Shamim Sarif.
  • One one of the books on Leyla's shelf is by Shamim Sarif.
• Cute Clumsy Girl: Leyla.
• Flamboyant Gay: Sami.
• Girls Love
• Gossipy Hens: Zina and Lamia
• Happy Ending
• Hollywood Atheist: Averted with Tala.
• Incompatible Orientation: Leyla and Ali.
• Lipstick Lesbian: Tala and Leyla.
• The Matchmaker: Yasmin and Ali become this for Tala and Leyla.
• Meddling Parents: Both girls' parents meddle a bit, but Leyla's parents are a considerably more light-hearted example of the trope than Tala's.
• Moe Couplet: Leyla and Tala. Especially Leyla.
• Runaway Bride: Tala.
• Invisible to Gaydar: Uncle Ramzi.
• Tall, Dark and Bishoujo: Tala.
• Transparent Closet: Leyla, as noted by Yasmin as she looks over her collection of k.d. lang CDs and notes her dissatisfaction with Ali.