This is a charming film.
Set at the beginning of the current war in Iraq, the movie follows the lives of Palestinians Muna and her teenage son, Fadi.
The pair relocate to a small town in Illinois where they encounter obstacles to achieving their dreams.
One theme that runs throughout the movie is the question of statehood. Whether waiting in line at a West Bank checkpoint, attending class in high school, or applying for a job, Muna and Fadi feel like outsiders both at home and abroad.
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The audience can’t help but sympathize with Muna (played expertly by Nisreen Faour) as she tries again and again to find a job.
And Fadi, who desperately wants to fit in, finds himself the target of classmates who are prejudiced against Arabs and call him Osama. In one scene, Muna reveals to a potential employer that she is Arab and he quips “Don’t blow the place up.”
The effects of the war also hit the home of Muna’s sister with whom she and Fadi are staying. Muna’s brother-in-law, a doctor, loses patients because he is Palestinian.
Muna develops a friendship with a school official who takes a liking to her right away. It doesn’t blossom into more than that but the hints are there.
This movie is a testament to how people adapt, how they can find home wherever they are.
Written and directed by Cherien Dabis, “Amreeka” has many funny and touching scenes. Dabis, who dedicates this film to her family, makes her feature writing and directorial debut with this film.
“Amreeka” is available to rent.
Murphy can be reached at: Lojano@comcast.net