SummaryAmreeka chronicles the adventures of Muna, a single mother who leaves the West Bank with Fadi, her teenage son, with dreams of an exciting future in the promised land of small town Illinois. In America, as her son navigates high school hallways the way he used to move through military checkpoints, the indomitable Muna scrambles together a new li... Read More
Directed By:Cherien Dabis
Written By:Cherien Dabis
Amreeka
Metascore
Generally Favorable
73
User score
Generally Favorable
7.6
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
79% Positive
19 Reviews
19 Reviews
21% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
91
Amreeka is strategically inviting and carefully mild even when making unsubtle points about Palestinian suffering and American insensitivity.
88
This slice of American life, as seen through the eyes of Palestinian immigrants, is nuanced, engaging and authentically observed.
80
A culture-clash dramedy whose background in Middle-East conflict is leavened with vibrant energy, balanced politics and droll humor by first-time feature director Cherien Dabis.
75
Filmmaker Dabis based Amreeka on her own family's experiences in the rural Midwest during the first Gulf War. Although the drama heads on a predictable course, Faour brings intelligence and humor to her performance and Muallem, as the smart adolescent turned surly and scared, is likewise sharp.
75
This small gem takes a basically optimistic view about the struggles that generations of immigrants have endured.
60
The culture clash comedy cleaves to predictability but the story’s specificity sustains its perceptive look at the human impact of post-9/11 jingoism.
40
Faour and Muallen give solid performances, but there are a few too many by-the-numbers moments.
User score
Generally Favorable
90% Positive
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
10% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Apr 10, 2014
10
"Amreeka", Cherien Dabis directorial debut, has fantastic story, strong heroine and strong messages. It is really unbiased to neither Palestinian's nor Americans, but instead shows the contrast and the difference between both traditions, which is really bold. Moreover, it never feels to keep you interested in the character development, in which all characters live in a stereotypical country. "Amreeka" is a heart warming experience, filled with Superb performances and a great laughs. It is not that easy a film earns a full rating, this one actually does!
Sep 25, 2010
7
Dabis is lucky to have such a wonderful cast on the debut film as director But this story about post 9/11 xenophobic America feels patchy at times and does not avoid the trap of introducing Hollywood-esque feel-good moments in an otherwise strong drama.
Production Company:
- National Geographic Entertainment
- Imagenation Abu Dhabi FZ
- Levantine Entertainment
- Maximum Film International
- Cinergy Productions
- First Generation Films
- Alcina Pictures
- Buffalo Gal Pictures
- Eagle Vision Media Group
- Rotana Film Production
- Showtime Arabia
- Violet Jabara Foundation
- R.A. Abdoo & Co.
- Manitoba Film & Music
- The Royal Film Commission
Release Date:Sep 4, 2009
Duration:1 h 36 m
Rating:PG-13
Tagline:Life's best adventures are journeys of the heart.
Website:
Awards
Cannes Film Festival
• 1 Win & 4 Nominations
Women Film Critics Circle Awards
• 1 Win & 4 Nominations
Film Independent Spirit Awards
• 3 Nominations
