Anita and Me tells the story of 12 year-old Meena growing up in the Black Country village of Tollington in 1972. Her life is changed forever by the arrival of Anita. She's 14, beautiful, aloof, sassy and blonde. Anita is everything Meena thinks she wants to be.  | | Anita and Meena on the Dodgems |
Meena tries her best to become part of Anita's life but it's not that easy, especially when a baby brother arrives and she's revising for entrance exams to a posh school. Plus, of course, there's that little problem of hormones and growing up. The film is based on Meera Syal's first novel, Anita and Me, which was published in 1996. It was based loosely on the Goodness Gracious Me actor's own childhood. She's one of the stars of the film along with Sanjeev Bhaskar, Kathy Burke, Mark Williams and Lynn Redgrave.  | | In a party mood |
Although set in the West Midlands much of the movie was filmed in Nottinghamshire because it was the only location able to provide an authentic pit village as a backdrop. Areas used in the film included the villages of Selston, Draycott, Newstead and Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. Anna Brewster (Anita), Chandeep Uppal (Meena), director Metin Huseyin and producer Paul Raphael will be introducing the premiere screening at the Broadway in Nottingham on Tuesday 19th November. The film goes on general release around the country from 22nd November. | 
