The Big Sick (2017)
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An interracial couple must navigate cultural differences and a medical crisis when the woman faces a serious illness.
The story
Kumail, a struggling standup comedian, begins dating Emily, a graduate student. Despite their different cultural backgrounds, they develop a deep connection. However, the relationship faces strain when Emily discovers photos of other women in Kumail's apartment, leading to a breakup. Shortly after, Emily is admitted to the hospital and falls into a medical coma. Kumail must navigate the complexities of her family's expectations and his own cultural traditions while waiting for her to wake up. As he stays by her side, he faces the challenge of reconciling his personal desires with his family's pressure for an arranged marriage.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Kumail, a Pakistani-American standup comedian, dates Emily, a Caucasian student. After a breakup sparked by cultural misunderstandings regarding Kumail's past, Emily is hospitalized and falls into a coma. Kumail stays by her side while her parents, Terry and Beth, arrive from North Carolina. Despite their initial coldness, the group bonds while waiting for Emily's surgery. Meanwhile, Kumail's parents pressure him toward an arranged marriage. After Emily awakens from a coma caused by Still's disease, she initially refuses to see Kumail. Kumail moves to New York to pursue his career, where he eventually performs a set. Emily appears in the audience, and the film ends with a montage of their wedding, showing Kumail's family in attendance.
- First release year
- 2017
- Runtime (minutes)
- 120
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Michael Showalter
- Writers
- Emily V. Gordon · writer; Kumail Nanjiani · writer
- Cast and characters
- Kumail Nanjiani; Zoe Kazan; Holly Hunter; Ray Romano; Anupam Kher; Adeel Akhtar
- Genres
- romantic comedy-drama
- Themes
- cultural differences; interracial romance; illness
- Tone and mood
- funny; heartfelt; intelligent
- Premise and plot tags
- romance; comedy; drama; semi-autobiographical
- Source material / true-story basis
- The screenplay... is loosely based on the real-life courtship between [Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani] before their marriage in 2007.
- Content notes
- language
- Reception
- The film was highly acclaimed, described as 'funny, heartfelt, and intelligent' and selected as an 'NYT Critic's Pick'. It was also noted for its 'universal acclaim' on Metacritic.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 98% · scale: percentage · review count: 306; Metacritic · score: 86 · scale: 100 · review count: 47; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Original Screenplay · nominated; Audience Award · Festival Favorites · won
- Production trivia
- The script was inspired by a conversation with producer Judd Apatow.; The film was one of the highest-grossing independent films of 2017.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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