Amreeka

The Angelika Film Center provided us with a deep and meaningful movie experience this week.

Amreeka was directed by Cherien Dabis and featured a wonderful cast of actors who told a story that everyone should see.

Without telling you too much, suffice it say this is a film about acceptance. Acceptance on every level. As small and simple as accepting yourself and who you are and as enormous and complex as acceptance of another country’s tradition and culture. Amreeka is the story of a Palestinian woman’s journey from occupied life behind “the wall” to “freedom and opportunity” in America. Recently left by her husband for another woman, Muna Farah (beautifully portrayed by Nisreen Faor) leaves her home and everything she knows with her teenage son, Fadi (expertly performed by Melkar Muallem) to build a new life. In the process they learn much about themselves.

As you can imagine, there are several roadblocks in their way. And, this story is not an easy one to watch. There is sadness and despair, and at times frustration. But in the end, we all agreed that it is a necessary film to see. Everyone should know the plight of the immigrants that come to our country to build new lives. No matter what their stories are, by learning them, we open our minds to compassion.

We rated this film 3 to 4 out of 5.