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Amreeka
EMAILPRINTNational Geographic Cinema Ventures

Generally favorable reviews
Based on 23 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 5 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Comedy | Drama
Written by: Cherien Dabis
Directed by: Cherien Dabis
Release Date:
Theatrical: September 4, 2009
DVD: January 12, 2010
Running Time: 96 minutes, Color
Origin: USA | Canada
Language(s): English | Arabic
Summary
RATING: PG-13 for brief drug use involving teens, and some language
Starring Nisreen Faour, and Melkar Muallem
Amreeka 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 life cooking up falafel burgers as well as hamburgers at the local White Castle. (National Geographic Cinema Ventures)
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
Amreeka is strategically inviting and carefully mild even when making unsubtle points about Palestinian suffering and American insensitivity.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov
Amreeka is anything but a depressing digression on American wartime paranoia.
Read Full Review >USA Today Claudia Puig
This slice of American life, as seen through the eyes of Palestinian immigrants, is nuanced, engaging and authentically observed.
Read Full Review >Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
A heartwarming film, not a political dirge. Much of this warmth comes from the actress Nisreen Faour.
Read Full Review >St. Louis Post-Dispatch Calvin Wilson
It's one of the funniest and most perceptive films of the year.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan
This is a pointed, emotional story of a divorced Palestinian woman and her son who immigrate to the U.S. just after the invasion of Iraq, a story that benefits from Dabis' background as a child growing up in the Midwest during the Gulf War as the daughter of a Palestinian father and a Jordanian mother.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Jan Stuart
Abetted by an observant cast, she (Dabis) navigates across politically and emotionally fraught terrain with a warming inflection of humor and a mother-hen's attention to the needs of all of her characters.
Read Full Review >The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt
Dabis, a Palestinian-American, has thoroughly re-energized the genre with refreshing wit, honest emotions, incisive observations and a perfect cast.
Read Full Review >Variety Rob Nelson
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.
Read Full Review >Village Voice Ella Taylor
There's nothing bitter or cynical about Amreeka, which is directed with impish wit, an observant visual competence, and an open, conciliatory spirit.
Read Full Review >The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey
A kind of stealth political film that confronts issues of ethnic tension and American xenophobia.
Read Full Review >San Francisco Chronicle Walter Addiego
The acting is good, particularly by Faour, who plays the naive, zaftig heroine as warm and appealing despite her troubles. It's also nice to see veteran Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass ("Lemon Tree"), who plays Muna's sister.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Wesley Morris
It’s one of the richer movies you’re likely to see about average Arabs in America.
Read Full Review >Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea
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.
Read Full Review >New York Post Lou Lumenick
This small gem takes a basically optimistic view about the struggles that generations of immigrants have endured.
Read Full Review >New Orleans Times-Picayune Mike Scott
Only one of a number of recent immigrant tales to hit theaters, but with its blend of sweet humor and topical relevance, it's one of the more compelling -- and surprising -- in some time.
Read Full Review >LA Weekly Scott Foundas
When most filmmakers want to say something important about cultural conflicts, they labor to bring tears to our eyes. Dabis, by contrast, makes us laugh at ourselves and, in turn, each other.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Stephen Holden
One of the most accomplished recent films about a non-European immigrant coming to the United States.
Read Full Review >Wall Street Journal Joanne Kaufman
Writer-director Cherien Dabis shot Amreeka in a gritty documentary style that reflects the often grim reality of the characters' situation. But he also knows how to mine the comic situations that are often part of the immigrant experience.
Read Full Review >Time Out New York Stephen Garrett
If the story were more arresting, and the filmmaking more original, then the notions of post-9/11 assimilation might be more compelling. As it stands, the movie just serves up another warmed-over Ellis Island rehash.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall
With her large, expressive eyes, abundant warmth, and radiant energy, Faour commands our sympathy, even through some weak dialogue and even weaker plot points.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club) Noel Murray
Amreeka lacks the sense of humor that set "Aliens In America" apart--and frankly, it’s rarely as insightful about the biases and strengths either of Arab émigrés or of sheltered Midwesterners.
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Joe Neumaier
Faour and Muallen give solid performances, but there are a few too many by-the-numbers moments.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 5 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Bob W. gave it an8:
Very subtle yet well made movie. Lead actress Nisreen Faour is very likable and performs admirably.
Edward K. gave it an8:
Amreeka is an insightful view into the life of immigrants to America. It is short on plot, and nothing really gets resolved, but the characters are interesting and the performances are convincing.
Nick J. gave it an8:
A movie that beautifully captures how a woman and her family survive two harsh, cruel worlds. Hiam Abass is marvelous as Muna's homesick and cynical sister. This movie misses out on being a truly great film only by a tiny little bit. A brave film in this day and age. Bravo!
Mari gave it a10:
Amreeka is genius not only because it offers the viewer a glimpse into the real life struggle of immigrants attempting to make in America, but also because it provides the necessary elements to draw the viewer in and entertain them- no matter what their background may be. Dealing with very serious elements such as the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq and the conflicts in the middle east is no easy task, but Cherien Dabis was able to do so in an optimistic and honest manner. Showing the reality of the human condition in a very humorous and real way. Yes, I was left with a better understanding of Arab-Americans and their struggles. But more importantly I was entertained and moved by the strong ensemble of characters and humbled by their struggle. At the end of it all, I felt that the film educated me, and thoroughly entertained me. I would highly recommend this to everyone.
