ironhorse_iv Directed and written by Cherien Dabis, the movie tells the story of a proud Palestinian Christian immigrant single mother, Muna Farah (Nisreen Faour) and her teenage son, Fadi Farah (Melkar Muallem) in small town Indiana, facing the trials and tribulations of moving to another country. Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, I love how well-shot and well-written, the film is. However, I just wish, the movie would show us, more on how they were able to survive. After all, wasn't the couple that they were staying at, were behind on their mortgage and on risk, of losing their home? I really doubt, the income of working at White Castle would save this family, from being homeless, but somehow, this movie shows that magic of White Castle can solves all the economic and world problems. No really, this is how this movie plays White Castle as a savior. I never knew, how good working at White Castle was. Not only, does, working at White Castle help you, reconnect with your son, but it also helps, reconnect other family member. It's seem like the magic of White Castle can do anything. Yes, I know, most people would probably say, this movie is a bit distracting, due to how much, they talk about how awesome, it is, to work at there, and how much, the film's overused of that product placement. However, I still get what this movie message was trying to say, with its dramatic story. So the whole White Castle brand integration wasn't too off-putting, because they kinda intergrade the product placement into the film, somewhat adequate. I like the fact that Muna Farah had to work there, after finding out, that all of her money has been confiscates, during her entrance into the country. I also love the fact, that White Castle isn't pull as a one-off joke. No, she honestly grow to love, working there. It kinda make sense, once you see the movie. I also have to say, Nisreen Faour is a fine actress and she makes this movie, so entertaining, not only with her great use of humor, but her emotional range. You really do believe, that she's willing to do anything to help her child, have success in America. I can somewhat related her drive. After all, there is nothing wrong, with working at a job like that, as long, as you're working for success. So, I was rooting for her. The only thing, I can say, that was bad about her character, is that she speaks, in Broken English. Don't get me wrong, the fact that she doesn't understand, English, that well, is part, of this movie's charm. I love, the jokes about her, misunderstanding English slangs like 'Grill', or not knowing initials like 'F.O.B" (Fresh off the Boat); however, I wish the movie had subtitles for the scenes, where they were speaking English to each other. It was really hard to hear, what they were saying to each other, due to the accent. Still, I have to give them, some credit for having English subtitles, whenever, the characters were speaking Arabic. That was very useful. I also like how the movie had a great subplot about American prejudice toward Arabs, coming out of the events of 9/11 and the beginnings of the 2003's Iraq War. It was very good social commentary. However, it does kinda fell flat at parts. A good example is Fadi's sub-plot with the one-dimensional bullies. We never get to see that story-arch honestly finish. Nor was it, explain, very well. Honestly, why didn't the bullies press charges against Fadi, after getting into a fight with them and slicing their tires? You would think, they had a good case. Another issues that wasn't explain well, is how Muna's brother in law's medical practice was save. How did Nabeel (Yussuf Abu-Warda) get his patient, back? The movie is full of subplots that go nowhere, like Muma's co-worker, Matt (Brodie Sanderson) dropping out of school, and trying to get his GED. Did he get it? We will never know. Then, there is the jokes that go nowhere like Muna trying to sell, weight-pills. The movie makes a lot of jokes about her weight, but we never get to see her, work at it, at all. Despite those flaws. This movie was still heart-warming enough to overlook them. I also love, how the movie doesn't seem like an independent movie. You would think, a big studio finance this. I love how the film was able to be shot on location in Ramallah, with its limited low-budget. It helps make the film, seem realistic, because you really do see, how life in the West Bank is. It's a very tense place to live, indeed. Even the Winnipeg sites as the film's Post-9/11 suburban Chicago settlings kinda work. It's funny to hear the story, how locals mistake the White Castle set, as a real restaurant, and try to order things from there. In the end, I have to say, the filmmakers really use their limited budget, very wisely. I have to say, they must had done, a great job, to get National Geographic Society to buy all theatrical and home entertainment rights to Amreeka after its debut at Sundance. It's rarely for National Geo to pick a movie up, that isn't a documentary. So, mad props to Amreeka! Overall: While, it's not the best movie out there. It's a guilty pleasure of mine. A beautiful and heart-warming movie, worth checking out. I recommended it.

zif ofoz And if you don't know what my title is in reference to then you haven't seen this movie. "when you are in this house you are in Palestine", that's another important statement in this movie!This is actually a very well acted and scripted film! It chronicles the immigration of a single Palestinian mother and son to Illinois and the culture clash they encounter.Unfortunately the plot is depressingly familiar and the outcome predictable. The mother is honest but wants to save face with her family that is allowing her & son to live with them by lying about her job. Both son & mother face rejection at school and the workplace, but they are resolute in overcoming the odds against them.So there you have it ... I encourage people who enjoy good cinema to watch this as it is a well crafted movie but I'm afraid a bit forgettable.

punishmentpark Lucky me, seeing Alia Shawkat twice in a row, unexpectedly, on a Saturday film night. This time she plays an American cousin to a Palestinian boy who comes to America with his mother. It starts out in Palestine (West Bank) though, and it's really interesting to get a sense of that place through a piece of film drama (other than the news or a documentary).Main character Muna Farah is played very well by Nisreen Faour, as her struggles with her new life really come across. Director Cherien Dabis said it like this, elsewhere on the net: 'had a sweetness about her [...] a kindness and a childlike sense of wonder. There was something about her that was so youthful, and yet, I could still see in her eyes the depth of sadness that her life experience had given her.' That's what I was trying to say!The story is more like a series of incidents, the main lines being Muna trying to find work and her son Fadi trying to regain his identity (though there is plenty beyond that, like how the family they stay with is coping). There is the school principal who befriends Muna, and there is the hostile schoolboy who opposes Fadi - and from there on it goes... and quite suddenly ends - leaving me to think this would have made great material for at least a miniseries.On the whole it's a very sympathetic little film - low key and low budget - truly with its heart in the right place.

herbqedi Amreeka chronicles the trials and tribulations of the lead character and her son as they leave a dissatisfying and violent life in Palestine for a dissatisfying and violent life in the Chicago area of the US. The performances of these two leads define the movie for me. Ms. Faour, as the mother, gives depth to her character way beyond the script, and conveys the proper resilience in the face of all possible indignities that only actors of true star quality can convey. On the other extreme, the actor playing the son is whiny and completely unconvincing when supposedly acting out of anger or supposedly longing to fit in. He is simply inept. With the exception of the poor performance by the class bully, the rest of the acting both by Palestinians and Americans is fairly good, especially given the rambling and episodic script that is chock full of clichés.Another huge impediment to enjoyment for me was the fact that the English subtitles in many scenes were nearly impossible to read. It seems to me that when letter-boxing first caught on, the subtitles on movies requiring them would appear in the letter-boxed portion of the screen making them highly visible. Then after awhile, that practice ceased altogether and I remember some highbrow critic saying that it was a practice that should be discontinued and shortly thereafter was - but I cannot recall why. In any event, some movies still manage to make the subtitles legible. This is NOT one of them.Altogether, if you wish to see a magnificent lead actor performance by a very atypical leading lady, there are worse ways to spend 100 minutes. FOr most of us, there are also better ways.