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The Citizen

  • 2012
  • PG-13
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
The Citizen (2012)
A drama centered on Ibrahim, an Arab immigrant who wins the American green card lottery, arriving in New York City on September 10th, 2001.
Play trailer1:55
1 Video
24 Photos
Drama

An Arab immigrant wins the American green card lottery, arriving in New York City on September 10, 2001.An Arab immigrant wins the American green card lottery, arriving in New York City on September 10, 2001.An Arab immigrant wins the American green card lottery, arriving in New York City on September 10, 2001.

  • Director
    • Sam Kadi
  • Writers
    • Jazmen Darnell Brown
    • Sam Kadi
    • Samir Younis
  • Stars
    • Khaled Nabawy
    • Agnes Bruckner
    • Rizwan Manji
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    3.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Sam Kadi
    • Writers
      • Jazmen Darnell Brown
      • Sam Kadi
      • Samir Younis
    • Stars
      • Khaled Nabawy
      • Agnes Bruckner
      • Rizwan Manji
    • 12User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
    • 38Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    U.S. Version
    Trailer 1:55
    U.S. Version

    Photos24

    View Poster
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    + 20
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    Top cast67

    Edit
    Khaled Nabawy
    Khaled Nabawy
    • Ibrahim
    Agnes Bruckner
    Agnes Bruckner
    • Diane
    Rizwan Manji
    Rizwan Manji
    • Mo
    William Atherton
    William Atherton
    • Winston
    Cary Elwes
    Cary Elwes
    • Miller
    Jay R. Adams
    Jay R. Adams
    • Hotel Bouncer
    • (as Jay Adams)
    Rachael Adams
    • Bar fight witness
    Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad
    • Rajiv
    Ele Bardha
    Ele Bardha
    • Agent Bardha
    Kerry Birmingham
    • Nancy Ketchum
    Jon Bradford
    • Car Retail Manager
    Angela N. Brown
    • Temp Agency Applicant
    Peter Carey
    Peter Carey
    • INS Interrogator
    Ariel M. Carlson
    Ariel M. Carlson
    • Woman #1
    Carl Harry Carlson
    Carl Harry Carlson
    • Judge Hawthorne
    Sandy Coonan
    • Pedestrian
    Cole Corey
    • Josh Rosen
    Stephen Detherage
    • Customs Agent
    • Director
      • Sam Kadi
    • Writers
      • Jazmen Darnell Brown
      • Sam Kadi
      • Samir Younis
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews12

    6.83.3K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
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    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    7zuma777

    The True Colors of Arabs

    What I really liked about this film is that it really embraces the true colors of Arabs in general and especially Muslims. The horrible stereotypes that always picture Islam as the "terror religion" have become so annoying these days that I try to avoid any movies that tell stories of Arab terrorists.

    Egyptian actor, Khaled ElNabawy plays a very believable Ibrahim who is a Lebanese immigrant coming to the US in search of the American dream. I have to say that I'm Egyptian and never was a fan of Khaled ElNabawy, but this film showed me what a great actor he is with his solid performance. The rest of the cast were also great but the main role was outstanding making you feel every step of suffering this guy went through.

    Of course, this movie isn't a movie to go down in history books as a great film but it's more like a message being sent especially to most Americans who unfortunately don't really know that much about other cultures and religions. In general, if you are a Muslim, Persian, Indian or certainly an Arab; you will find this film very satisfying.

    I gave it a 7 because of some flaws and plot holes noticed throughout the film, usually I point them out, but this time I'm going to let it go.
    10Lessismooore

    Awesome

    This movie is representing the real Arab Muslims, unlike other American movies showing to the world that Muslims are just a bunch of terrorists, which is a big misleading as our religion Islam is originally against terrorism. Islam is prompting people for love, help, work and live, exactly like what mentioned generally in the movie.

    We need more movies like this one to show the world the real Islam specially the Arab Muslims.

    Special thanks to Khaled El Nabawy and the rest of the crew for this great movie. and I wish this movie to be nominated for international awards.
    1rebaaron-1

    Propaganda

    Islam is the religion of peace. The real terrorists in our world are anyone but Muslems.

    We all stand in long security lines at the airports, and probably will do so forever, because someone blew up passenger liners over and over again. Who did that? It must be Martian terrorists, certainly not Muslems.

    Every country in the world that shares a border with a Muslem nation is at war with them. It's not the Muslems who are fault. It's all the others.

    This movie gives us a Muslem, who thinks and acts like an American, because Muslems are just like Americans.

    Give me a break.

    This movie gives us a Muslem, who thinks and acts like an American, because Muslems are just like Americans.

    Give me a break.
    4buiger

    So cliché'...

    Just your run-of-the-mill, feel-good, do-good Hollywood presentation where everybody is such an incredibly good Samaritan and the only bad guys are the psychopaths running the US government (only when a Republican is President though, otherwise they all become good Samaritans too, get Nobel prizes, etc.)

    Such simplistic movies distorting the truth are bad enough when they are made by Americans who can be seen as entitled to criticize their own government, however blatantly wrong they may be, but it leaves a sour taste in the mouth coming from a Syrian director...

    P.S. The European intelligentsia will love this movie! I am surprised it didn't win the Golden Palm in Cannes...
    10vv-web

    great

    this movies is the best Arab life story in USA i ever see. it's really important to understand that not all Arab immigrant or Muslim are terrorist , we all humans live in same planet , respect each other and religion . I don't care what other's believes or what's their religion as long as they are good to me i'll be good to them and even better . I hope that someday people start respect each other for their moral not for their skin or religion .I'ts great movie for you Khaled el Nabawi you did great . this movies is the best Arab life story in USA i ever see this movies is the best Arab life story in USA i ever see this movies is the best Arab life story in USA i ever see this movies is the best Arab life story in USA i ever see

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Plant your good deeds and seeds
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Bailiff: All rise.

      Judge Hawthorne: Please be seated. Mr. Winston, you may cross-examine the witness.

      Winston: Good morning. Prior to your arrival in 2001, had you made any other visits to this country?

      Ibrahim: No.

      Winston: Did your duties as an auto mechanic in any way necessitate relocation to the United States?

      Ibrahim: Sorry, would you please repeat the question.

      Winston: What brought you to this country? Why are you here?

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    FAQ18

    • How long is The Citizen?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 27, 2013 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • Vatandaş
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • 3K Pictures
      • Why Me Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $24,296
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $368
      • Sep 8, 2013
    • Gross worldwide
      • $48,767
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 39m(99 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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