AFTER NINE YEARS spent learning "how to be a good Pakistani daughter" from the grandparents who raised her, Hava (Pooja Kumar) is excited to touch down at San Francisco International Airport and reunite with her mother, her cab-driving father, and, to a lesser extent, her surly, fully Americanized younger brother. Thrilled by the new culture that surrounds her, Hava hopes to take advantage of opportunities less available to women in Pakistan, including enrolling in college classes and working part-time at a coffee shop. Though she manages to achieve both goals – behind her father's back, of course – it seems Night of Henna is not headed toward the realization of Hava's humble dreams: the opening scene flashes forward to reveal preparations for her very traditional, very prearranged wedding day. This bit of information also casts a shadow over Hava's tentative romance with Justin (Craig Marker), a preppy musician who encourages her to explore her individuality. Local writer-director Hassan Zee shot most of Night of Henna in San Francisco, but he manages to avoid visual clichés for the most part; likewise, his clash-of-cultures script juggles elements both familiar and refreshing. Self-dubbed "America's first Pakistani American film," Night of Henna makes up for its flaws – including a way-too-tidy ending and a dead-end subplot involving Justin's slutty landlady – with its virtues, including a lovely performance by Kumar, a former Miss India who has the acting chops to back up her striking looks. (Cheryl Eddy)