Amreeka

Amreeka has been getting some good buzz at Sundance. It definitely sounds like my kind of film.

Amreeka is a warm and lighthearted film about one Palestinian family’s tumultuous journey into Diaspora amidst the cultural fallout of America’s war in Iraq. Muna Farah, a Palestinian single mom, struggles to maintain her optimistic spirit in the daily grind of intimidating West Bank checkpoints, the constant nagging of a controlling mother, and the haunting shadows of a failed marriage. Everything changes one day when she receives a letter informing her that her family has been granted a U.S. green card.

There's a great interview with the director, Cherien Dabis, over at the Women and Hollywood blog where she talks about the need for Arab-American films and how President Obama's presence in the top seat is a positive step in cultivating that change.