The complexities of Indian politics in 1947 unfold on the big screen Friday as Seville Pictures releases director Vic Sarin’s Partition on 33 screens across the country.

Produced by Vancouver’s Sepia Films, the drama follows a young Muslim girl (Kristin Kreuk) who falls in love with an older Sikh man (Jimi Mistry) amid tensions between their religious groups. The tragic implications à la Romeo and Juliet and Doctor Zhivago stand to play with female audiences, says Seville VP of marketing Victor Rego, though he also hopes for crossover appeal.

‘The whole ethnic aspect plays much wider, while the historical element will also attract the guys,’ says Rego.

Partition‘s release follows a vigorous marketing push by Seville, comprised of test screenings in key urban areas and suburbs, premieres in both Toronto and Vancouver and $400,000 worth of TV spots.

Kreuk has also done a lot of press to boost the film, especially in her hometown of Vancouver.

‘The response was great, and we’ve received a lot of goodwill from the Canadian media, both electronic and print,’ notes Rego, adding that Partition will play in both art house and mainstream theaters in cities including Calgary, Winnipeg, Burnaby, Port Coquitlam, Surrey and Halifax.

‘We will likely be adding some screens, but will wait until the Monday phone call,’ Rego says.

Partition is up against new U.S. releases including the horror drama The Messengers, the romantic comedy Because I Said So, and the Andy Warhol-inspired Factory Girl.

Partition has no U.S. distributor attached and Myriad Pictures will handle international sales.