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Synopsis
This sharp and funny American indie film depicting Arab-American life is both entertaining and socially relevant.
In Brooklyn, even a minor fender-bender recalls international conflicts when one driver is an Arab and the other is a Jew. Two Islamic Palestinian brothers, surrounded by their circle of neighborhood friends, take different paths in balancing their ingrained prejudices and old-world traditions with the everyday realities of American life. One of the brothers takes a job as a personal aide to an elderly, wheelchair-bound Jew. One friend is propelled to delve deeper into his Islamic faith by the death of a relative in Palestine at the hands of Israeli soldiers. Tired of carrying the name Saddam, another friend (an energetic performance from writer-director Ghazi Albuliwi) decides to rename himself Tito and pass as Puerto Rican. Meanwhile, a father is arranging a marriage for a son who has a secret Anglo girlfriend. From fanciful discussions on the packaging of religion (“Jesus Christ is the Michael Jordan of religious products.”) to sobering news clips of Middle Eastern conflict, the film touches on myriad realities of being an Arab-American in the 21st century. Sharp direction, tight editing and winning performances overcome the film’s low-budget limitations to create a well-crafted storyline which deals with issues reflected in every other story on the evening news.
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| -Ann Yarabinee "Philadelphia Film Festival" |
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