9/11 Film Review of Amreeka: Drama of the Arab-Christian Experience in America Also Strikes Notes of Heart and Humor

Perhaps, there is no more fitting day than September 11th to write about a film that reminds us of our shared humanity as we struggle to survive, better ourselves, and deal with the subject of loss. Currently, this is exemplified in a new film by first-time, feature-length director and writer Cherien Dabis, from whom I feel certain we will see more exciting film-making. Amreeka, is the Arabic word for America, which Dabis knows so well for she is the daughter of Palestinian-Jordanian immigrants who came to the Midwest before she was born.

Dabis' new film is a compelling look at Muna (Nisreen Faour), a lovely, divorced, overweight, overeducated Palestinian woman living in the West Bank with her teenage son Fadi (Melkar Muallem) and her mother. Stopping for groceries before she makes the long and arduous journey home through military checkpoints where she and her son are sometimes subjected to humiliating treatment by Israeli soldiers, she suffers as she sees her ex-husband and his skinny, overly painted, new wife. Muna also suffers from being overqualified for and is becoming exasperated with her job in a bank, weary of her mother's kvetching, and exhausted from a commute formerly taking 20 minutes that now with the wall built around the West Bank takes over two hours.

When a long-forgotten visa application is granted permitting her to come to the U.S., Fadi urges Muna to grab it. Their emotional goodbyes to Muna's mother and brother are a heartbreaking reminder of the farewells that immigrants must make when they tear themselves away from parents, siblings, and children. Dabis' direction of her actors' performances brings an extraordinary tenderness and pathos to the universal experience in this and so many other scenes throughout this wonderfully authentic film.

Muna (played to near perfection by Nisreen Faour) and Fadi (in an authentic and compelling performance by Melkar Muallem) embrace demonstrating the power of love between mother and son who have come from Palestine to find a better life in small-town Illinois which is not quite ready to embrace them.

Even after the long and grueling treatment in U.S. customs, Muna and Fadi arrive exhausted but still hopeful and excited to live with her sister Raghda (Hiam Abbass), brother-in-law Nabeel (Yussef Abu Warda), and their three charming daughters (so perfectly cast that they nearly steal the film). The time is 2003, and the U.S. is about to invade Iraq, which is far from a perfect time for Arabs to come to Amreeka.

Muna armed with two degrees and a long work history struggles to find work only to be rejected over and over again. Finally, she takes a job at a White Castle, but the shame of this humble work makes her keep it from her son, sister, and family. Son Fadi encounters similar misunderstandings and abuse based on ignorance and prejudice in school. Thank goodness he has his feisty cousin Salma (Alia Shawkat) close by for support and comfort. Financial pressures and prejudices are made even worse when Muna's brother-in-law, a once successful physician, finds himself losing patients and can barely pay the mortgage on the home that this mega-extended family share.

While Muna and her extended family encounter many ignoramuses and bullies, they are also aided by small heroes: the kind-hearted principal of Fadi and Salma's high school, Mr. Novatski (Joseph Ziegler) who is Jewish; a bank employee (Miriam Smith) working next door to the White Castle who keeps tabs on Muna and her secret life as a hamburger slinger; and Muna's blue-haired, high-school drop-out co-worker Matt (Brodie Sanderson) for whom she makes scrumptious falafel in "The Castle's" deep fryer normally reserved for French fries. No one is perfect in this film, however; even the sophisticated Mr. Ziegler assumes Muna and her Arab family are Muslims, but they are, in fact, Christian.*

Veteran actress Hiam Abbass known to audiences from The Visitor, Babel, Munich and other films and Nisreen Faour play sisters in a tight-knit, Arab-American family trying to survive and make sense of a post-9/11 world.

Amreeka is an artful, moving testimony to the perils of making assumptions about individuals or groups. It is overflowing with masterful framing, lighting, use of music, editing, and other technical aspects of filmmaking, which coalesce almost seamlessly. It features stunning performances by Nisreen Faour as the irrepressible Muna, veteran Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass (The Visitor, Babel, Munich, Lemon Tree), Melkar Muallem (in his film debut), Yussef Abu Warda (a well known theater actor from Haifa), Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development, State of Grace, Prom Wars), and a wonderful ensemble of other talented actors. The film is also marked by a rare consistency of tone and an authenticity that stretch (almost) to the very end of the movie. By this time, however, we don't much care. We're hooked, so the final idyllic scene is very satisfying indeed.

Amreeka is a film of impeccable taste that unites instead of divides and centers itself on a universal character who reminds us so much of our own relatives past and present who had the audacity and courage to come to America to fulfill their dreams of a better life.*

***1/2 Stars (out of 4)

Amreeka. Directed, written, and produced by Cherien Dabis. Starring Nisreen Faour (Muna Farah), Melkar Muallem (Fadi Farah), Hiam Abbass (Raghda Halaby), Alia Shawkat (Salma Halaby), Yussef Abu Warda (Nabeel Halaby), and Joseph Ziegler (Mr. Novatski). Released by National Geographic Entertainment. Running time: 1 hour 37 minutes.

* (In Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and other Middle Eastern countries, there are large numbers of Arab-Christians -- who like Victoria Reggie Kennedy -- are Catholic and descendents of Maronites or are Greek- and Eastern-Orthodox. Like their Irish, Italian, Greek, and Serbian counterparts, they have made their way to the United States ever since the early 20th Century and have not always been entirely welcomed. Recently, Arab-Christians, Arab-Muslims, and other Muslim-Americans find themselves subjected ironically to the same suspicion and grotesque anti-Semitism as their Jewish-American counterparts who suffered so similarly during the Red Scare of the McCarthy Era and the HUAC in the 1950s.)

Comments

[Macaria]

I have yet to see this film but this insight to different "religions", customs and intolerance amongst so many very different people make it seem interesting. Unfortunately "shared humanity" is NOT in everyone's mind.

[JoannFrank]

I am looking forward to seeing the movie! Thanks to the article written by Penelope Andrew. I have heard good things also about the film... Amreeka should be a touching and moving film, I enjoy these type of films you feel inspired after them... The thorns in your side are not there to harm you but to strenghthen you! Thanks for the post, it was a good reminder to go see the film....

[eileenflemingWAWA]

Some of the best Christians I know are Palestinian Muslims!

My first book, "KEEP HOPE ALIVE" is a fictionalized memoir of Dr. Khaled Diab, a '48 refugee who made his way to the USA and realized the American dream. After a lucrative career in the Defense Industry during the Cold War and THAT DAY we call 9/11, Dr. D brought together American Jews, Christians and Muslims and founded The Olive Trees Foundation for Peace

After reading it, Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate wrote:

"I have just finished reading your wonderful book ‘Keep Hope Alive’. I found it most inspiring and can see in your story the influences of your Spiritual journey – Merton, Dorothy day, Fox, St. John of the cross, Francis!! All of whom I share as they are, I believe, great guides to the Spiritual journey. The book brought me closer to you Eileen – and I was Moved by your great heart and compassion for all those who suffer – Especially the Israelis and the Palestinians and people of Gaza.Thank you for your faithfulness to them (and for helping to provide and Plant so many Olive trees – a real symbol of hope for the Palestinians."

So far 41,000 have been rooted on both sides of The Wall to help replace over a million trees that have been destroyed by The Wall;

Man made walls can fall in a day,

But the walls in minds and hearts must fall first.

[Lutfi]

Salamat , I also looking forward to see the film, I believe that we Muslim and Christians Arab have more in common than the media portrait living in Palestine we had Friends of many religions believe, the only different that you'll see is the pendant being worn whether its a cross or Allah , as long as we can keep our goals as the same we will be successful. and keep the fanatic out. Shukran

[reggie]

Can't wait to see this film. I LOVE the idea of her making falafel in the White Castle fryer! Thank you also, Ms. Andrew, for the helpful historical note about Christian Arabs.

[MinLI38]

I myself being a first generation of european decent can truly relate in Penelope Andrew's review of Amreeka which depicted life's journies and struggles which truly touched me and am looking forward in seeing it.

[JustifiablyParanoid]

I heard good things about this film and am looking forward to seeing it.