Living my whole life in the United States and growing up with traditional American customs, it always enlightens me to watch movies that take me out of my comfort zone. The Syrian Bride is a reality check on my traditional values of what marriage means to me. The thought of an arranged marriage to someone you've never met, I just can't see how that is done. But here, it happens all the time. The problem for this Syrian bride is once she crosses the border to wed her husband, politics will never allow her to return home to her family. Her small village of Majdial Shame, has been under Israelie occupation since the 60's and the border is highly protected. Good movie at giving one an insight into living in the Middle East.Hammed (Makram J. Khoury) is a leading political figure in the small Palestinian town of Majdal Shams. A while back, he arranged the marriage of his daughter Mona (Clara Khoury), to the now famous actor, Tallel (Derar Sliman), from Syria. The family is getting together to tend to Mona's needs. Hammed's youngest son Marwan (Ashraf Barhoum), works in Italy and is visiting for the wedding, Hammed's oldest son, Hattem (Eyad Sheety), has come from Russia with his Russian wife and son but has been out casted by his father for leaving his home land and marrying out of the culture. Another daughter Amal (Hiam Abbass), helps Mona prepare for her big day. Marwan dates a woman named Jeanne (Julie-Anne Roth), who works for the American United Nations and will help with the passport arrangement between the countries to transport Mona across the border. But much red tape comes along with this simple task and Mona is not allowed to cross over to her matrimonial destination unless the countries can reach some sort of agreement.
Arte France Cinéma, Eran Riklis Productions (ERP)
Director: Eran Riklis
Writers: Suha Arraf, Eran Riklis
Producers: Bettina Brokemper, Michael Eckelt, Eran Riklis
I viewed 7/11
