The Syrian Bride

There is, however, considerable humor to what might have been an exceedingly grim film, and most of it comes courtesy of Mona's slippery brother, Marwan (Ashraf Barhoum).

An extraordinary social comedy.

Movies like The Syrian Bride are not overtly political, but nibble around the edges, engaging our tendency to take a big political position and then undermine it with humanitarian exceptions.

The result is both tragic and darkly comic - in this complex environment, blame and sorrow are locked in a partnership of absurdity.

The Syrian Bride manages to entertain even as it both moves and amuses.

This Israeli film gives us an honest look at situations we never see in the news. It may have too many flaws to be a good film, but for its content, it is a winner.

A strangely inert affair. The stories devolve into one-dimensional squabbling and too many loose threads flap around the edges.