I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The acting in this movie is really good.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Directed and written by Cherien Dabis, the movie tells the story of a proud Palestinian Christian immigrant single mother, Muna Farah (Nisreen Faour) and her teenage son, Fadi Farah (Melkar Muallem) in small town Indiana, facing the trials and tribulations of moving to another country. Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, I love how well-shot and well-written, the film is. However, I just wish, the movie would show us, more on how they were able to survive. After all, wasn't the couple that they were staying at, were behind on their mortgage and on risk, of losing their home? I really doubt, the income of working at White Castle would save this family, from being homeless, but somehow, this movie shows that magic of White Castle can solves all the economic and world problems. No really, this is how this movie plays White Castle as a savior. I never knew, how good working at White Castle was. Not only, does, working at White Castle help you, reconnect with your son, but it also helps, reconnect other family member. It's seem like the magic of White Castle can do anything. Yes, I know, most people would probably say, this movie is a bit distracting, due to how much, they talk about how awesome, it is, to work at there, and how much, the film's overused of that product placement. However, I still get what this movie message was trying to say, with its dramatic story. So the whole White Castle brand integration wasn't too off-putting, because they kinda intergrade the product placement into the film, somewhat adequate. I like the fact that Muna Farah had to work there, after finding out, that all of her money has been confiscates, during her entrance into the country. I also love the fact, that White Castle isn't pull as a one-off joke. No, she honestly grow to love, working there. It kinda make sense, once you see the movie. I also have to say, Nisreen Faour is a fine actress and she makes this movie, so entertaining, not only with her great use of humor, but her emotional range. You really do believe, that she's willing to do anything to help her child, have success in America. I can somewhat related her drive. After all, there is nothing wrong, with working at a job like that, as long, as you're working for success. So, I was rooting for her. The only thing, I can say, that was bad about her character, is that she speaks, in Broken English. Don't get me wrong, the fact that she doesn't understand, English, that well, is part, of this movie's charm. I love, the jokes about her, misunderstanding English slangs like 'Grill', or not knowing initials like 'F.O.B" (Fresh off the Boat); however, I wish the movie had subtitles for the scenes, where they were speaking English to each other. It was really hard to hear, what they were saying to each other, due to the accent. Still, I have to give them, some credit for having English subtitles, whenever, the characters were speaking Arabic. That was very useful. I also like how the movie had a great subplot about American prejudice toward Arabs, coming out of the events of 9/11 and the beginnings of the 2003's Iraq War. It was very good social commentary. However, it does kinda fell flat at parts. A good example is Fadi's sub-plot with the one-dimensional bullies. We never get to see that story-arch honestly finish. Nor was it, explain, very well. Honestly, why didn't the bullies press charges against Fadi, after getting into a fight with them and slicing their tires? You would think, they had a good case. Another issues that wasn't explain well, is how Muna's brother in law's medical practice was save. How did Nabeel (Yussuf Abu-Warda) get his patient, back? The movie is full of subplots that go nowhere, like Muma's co-worker, Matt (Brodie Sanderson) dropping out of school, and trying to get his GED. Did he get it? We will never know. Then, there is the jokes that go nowhere like Muna trying to sell, weight-pills. The movie makes a lot of jokes about her weight, but we never get to see her, work at it, at all. Despite those flaws. This movie was still heart-warming enough to overlook them. I also love, how the movie doesn't seem like an independent movie. You would think, a big studio finance this. I love how the film was able to be shot on location in Ramallah, with its limited low-budget. It helps make the film, seem realistic, because you really do see, how life in the West Bank is. It's a very tense place to live, indeed. Even the Winnipeg sites as the film's Post-9/11 suburban Chicago settlings kinda work. It's funny to hear the story, how locals mistake the White Castle set, as a real restaurant, and try to order things from there. In the end, I have to say, the filmmakers really use their limited budget, very wisely. I have to say, they must had done, a great job, to get National Geographic Society to buy all theatrical and home entertainment rights to Amreeka after its debut at Sundance. It's rarely for National Geo to pick a movie up, that isn't a documentary. So, mad props to Amreeka! Overall: While, it's not the best movie out there. It's a guilty pleasure of mine. A beautiful and heart-warming movie, worth checking out. I recommended it.

This very moving 2009 film written and directed by Cherien Dabis could hardly be more timely, what with the current Immigration issues in filibuster in Washington and entry into the land of hope and liberty, so long a dream for many, now a country under close surveillance of individual privacy. This is a film, simple on the surface, but one with a significant message that would benefit all to watch and digest.The story opens in Palestine. After her husband divorces her for a slimmer woman, Muna Farah (Nisreen Faour) lives with her cranky mother and her excellent student son Fadi (Melkar Muallem) in an unnumbered house in Bethlehem. Frustrated by the constant need to cross through insulting armed checkpoints as Muna goes to her bank job and Fadi goes to school, they apply for a visa to escape the Palestinian problems with dreams of an exciting future in the promised land of small town Illinois where Muna's sister Raghda (the always brilliant Hiam Abbass) and her physician husband Nabeel (Yussuf Abu-Warda) live with their daughters. After one last treachery at customs (where Muna's life savings are confiscated) the two arrive in America. Muna is unable to find work in a bank but is secretly employed in a hamburger joint, befriended by fellow worker, high school dropout Matt (Brodie Sanderson). Fadi gets into school but is immediately ostracized by crude thoughtless students for being foreign and therefore a 'terrorist'. Meanwhile Raghda and Nabeel begin to sink into debt when Saddam Hussein is conquered in the Iraqi war and public sentiment is against all Arab speaking peoples. Fadi eventually fights back when the prejudiced students cause an accident for his mother and is arrested for assault, Muna's 'low class' employment is discovered, but when all looks grim the isolated family is befriended by a friendly Polish Jew educator Stan Novatski (Joseph Ziegler), by Matt, and by a worker in the bank that couldn't hire Muna. At least the spirit of a few can intervene to alter Muna and Farid's view of their new home.Writer/Director Dabis based this story on her family's memories of their lives in rural America during the first Iraq War. It is a potentially painful story to experience, but Dabis fills the dialogue with enough good natured humor that the point of the film is made without excessive preaching yet enough of the realities immigrants from the Middle East face to make the film unforgettable. Excellent performances from a fine cast. Grady Harp

This is a great film about immigrating to North America as a divorced mother. The interactions between Mona (the mother) and Fadi (the son) are memorable; whether it be at the border at the occupied territories, in the US regarding his rebelliousness in school or confronting the attitude of US rural society. I just viewed this film and disagree that it is a stereotype. Maybe the reviewers have not taken a good look at "real life" in North America as a newly arrived immigrant.In this case, they are from occupied Palestine and immigrate exactly when the Bush administration declares war on Iraq. The town shuns them. No one is Iraqi, Palestine is occupied and war is on the way; so the son convinces her to leave when she receives unexpected news.A twist and tease every step of the way and the end is most unexpected!

This story follows a Middle-Eastern woman as she struggles living in an military-occupied West Bank. When she receives notice that she has been chosen in a lottery for a U.S. Green Card, she has to make the decision whether or not to uproot herself and her son for greener pastures. After making the decision to go, leaving her mother and brother behind, she realizes that life in Amreeka (America) is not all that she had dreamed it would be. Facing prejudice everywhere she turns, she makes other hard choices in trying to support her family...the son she brought to America with her and the relatives that she is staying with in the Midwest who are facing prejudice and struggling to make ends meet. In the end, this film reminds the viewer of the importance of family and the sacrifices we make for those we love.