"The end result isn't a relaxed and incantatory celebration of cross-cultural friction that finds emotional and spiritual resonance in the mundane, a la The Secret of the Grain, but a sitcomish harangue." - Ed Gonzalez

Just as the protagonist of Cherien Dabis' Amreeka sees little to be proud of in her employment at White Castle, so too should Dabis find little self-satisfaction with this flaccid immigrant drama. Never a serious consideration or examination of America's post-9/11 socio-cultural climate, Amreeka erratically switches between milking Muna's plight for opposing comedy and pathos. Softened up as if to appeal to the Crash crowd, the film winds up saying barely anything.

Amreeka isn't great, but it's a relief when a movie that touches on America's post-9/11 unease regarding Muslims and the Arab world isn't full of condemnation.

Muna is one of those characters who makes you want to tear your hair out. Solid drama that touches on some very important topics. Not a great film, but certainly worth your time.

Alia Shawkat brightens it for an AD-fan as myself, other than that there's not much to shout about.

The cast is excellent with Faour expressing a particularly warm, bright, and strong presence.

Semi-autobiographical work by writer-director Cherien Dabis, didactic and preachy despite the sincerest efforts to maintain a sense of humor.

nisan 10, 29. ist. film fest. & festivalde izledigim belki de en humanist, en cana yakin - kanimin en cok kaynadigi ve sevdigim filmlerden.. belki de boyle olmasindaki en buyuk etken senaryonun semi-autobiografical* olmasidir. yonetmenlikte senaryo gibi sade, ama seyirciyi icine ceken turden.