shanonm-87423 Movie was good, but the main actress did not get the Iranian accent right. Including the "Iranian" mom. Both by the way are not Iranian at all. But storyline was interesting. I love reading poetry by Rumi. He was def a romantic at heart. The movie was good to watch, I would recommend it.

phd_travel A woman moves from Iran to California and an arranged marriage. She falls in love with her piano teacher's gardener. Quite a timely topic since there is this ongoing deal with Iran. Interesting to see a movie about someone from there. The flashbacks could have been enlarged to show more contrast. Franca Raisa acts quite well - very different from her "Secret Life" role. For an American Latina actress she pulls of a Middle Eastern look and speech quite well. At times her character acts a bit too brazen for someone who came from a supposedly repressive regime. Daphne Zuniga is quite good as the sick piano teacher. Ryan Guzman and Franca look right together but why was his character so idiotic at the end? The ending is just terribly clichéd and predictable. I won't spoil it but it makes you feel like you wasted time watching the movie.

Innocentwun619 This movie is perfect. I loved that there were many important topics touched upon and it wasn't only focused on the romantic love story. It was very well written, directed, filmed, edited, and the cast was perfection. I believe Francia Raisa played the role really well, I felt every emotion she was feeling and that to me is powerful acting. She created a perfect passionate match for a love story with Ryan Guzman. Their on screen chemistry was amazing. I enjoyed the way the music and poetry was incorporated into the film as well. Very creative. Not many films draw me in emotionally, but this movie definitely did just that. I HIGHLY recommend watching it.

GCFFilms A deliciously fresh take on the modern love story with gripping dramatic moments. It's a poetic, passionate film that loves its characters. I could not take eyes off of star Francia Raisa from the moment she graced the screen. She wholly embodies the role of Shahrzad and nails every emotion too a tee -- lust, shame, self-loathing, fear, artistic passion, and so much in between -- as the haunted and conflicted woman who escapes her oppressive homeland, and becomes the center of a complex love triangle in her newfound Western surroundings.Ryan Guzman not only looks GOOD as Sebastian, the Spanish American gardener who captures the heart of Shahrzad, but really delivers both charm and sensitivity needed to set the sparks really do fly between the two of them. Strong performances from the supporting cast -- especially impressive is Daphne Zuniga as a former movie star turned piano teacher also entangled in a love affair with Sebastian.The characters also boast their own love affairs, so to speak, with the poems of Rumi and Lorca which playfully tie into the story. The soothing music of Tchaikovsky and Persian classical music effectively amp up the emotional level of the story, paired with equally rhythmic and playful visual intercutting. Great film all around.