Directed Cherien Dabis
Rialto
4/5)
I is a film about a Palestinian mother and son trying to adapt to life in post-9/11 America, where every Arabic person is suspiciously viewed as a potential terrorist. Muna is a middle-aged divorcee living in the West Bank with her son, Fadi. Faced with Israeli checkpoints and harassment from soldiers daily, life is not picture perfect. So when Muna receives papers in the mail allowing her and Fadi to move to America (which she had forgotten she had applied for), they decide to pack up their things and leave to start a new life in the golden land of opportunities.
When they arrive in the US, things are not all that they dreamed they would be. At customs they are held for three hours, which, according to Muna’s sister, is not out of the ordinary considering the political climate. Despite having two degrees and 10 years of banking experience, the best job Muna can get is at a fast-food joint. Fadi is bullied at school and has to deal with racial slurs about suicide bombers and Osama bin Laden. A star student at home, Fadi is now shy and gets into trouble, in and out of school.
In spite of the difficult circumstances Muna and Fadi are faced with, this is not a depressing film. Muna is a cheerful woman with a lot of enthusiasm, and deals with life in America with a beguiling humour and tenacity. For all the racist rednecks that they encounter, Muna and Fadi also meet many generous, friendly Americans. The message of this film? Life is not perfect wherever you are living, so put a smile on your face, wake up, and smell the roses!
Amreeka
