The Syrian Bride
The Syrian Bride Image
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Metascore
70 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 7 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: Directed with equal parts humor and humanity by Israeli filmmaker Eran Riklis, The Syrian Bride is set on the sun-baked border between Israel and Syria, a no man’s land that the eponymous bride must cross in order to meet her anxious groom. (Film Forum)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    88
    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).
  2. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tim Grierson
    80
    By crafting its message in mostly understated strokes, The Syrian Bride touches your heart, which you might not even fully realize until its deft, wordless final moments sweep by you.
  3. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    80
    An extraordinary social comedy.
  4. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: J. Hoberman
    60
    The Syrian Bride has no particular visual style, but it exudes affection, for its characters and their culture as well as the unprepossessing beauty of the scrubby terrain that holds them in thrall. Like all wedding films, it's essentially a comedy, albeit a sad one.

See all 23 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. BenK.
    8
    A flim that exists at the intersection of family dynamics and governmental meddling. Mona, the title character, is an Israeli citizen from the Golan Heights who is due to marry a Syrian television star, whom she has never met, in Damascus. Because Syria and Israel do not have diplomatic relations once she marries she will not be allowed back into Israel. So on top of the apprehension of marrying a person you've never met is the reality of ones life being altered, both as a married person and as an exile. (In reality they may be the same thing.) The film is much more vibrant than my dour description of it. It's an entertaining and illumnitating film from a region that is producing some excellent movies.… Expand
  2. HannC.
    8
    knowing the Jewish director, cameraman plus Palestinian screenplay, and majorly Arab casts, you will know it's not that hard to work and live together... although the plots are evolved with tiny fragments of lives we took it for granted, andyet, the message has been heard----no matter which side are you in, those people's life and lives and a part of it !!!! Thanks to Hiam Abbass's perfect portrait of a tough and mediating central role, though it not her peak yet, consider two other nearly perfect performance in "Sating Rouge"(by Raja Amari, 2002) and "Nadia et Sarra"(by Moufida Tlatli,2004 ) on her belt, you will know the drill.… Expand
  3. nutterjr
    5
    Not much of a political statement and not much of a drama either. I did not connect to the main characters and after a while all I wanted to do was fast forward to the end. Solid performances by the whole cast did not save the film from mediocracy.… Expand

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