Sand Storm

I really enjoyed this very well made film. The actors did a great job portraying the characters. The main character, Layla, will stay in my thoughts for a long time. Very sad how narrow many women's lives are and how few choices they have. Watched on NF and thought I was watching episode 1 of a series so disappointed that the story is finished but the movie says it all really and the ending was not disappointing.

Sand Storm may not be a masterpiece of world cinema. Perhaps more distinctive art films claim their place on that stage. This movie takes a naturalistic approach to its story, depicting development in a straightforward way without auteur splashes. It offers a big dose of realism about a tough subject and tough circumstances. Perhaps that doesn't appeal to a more casual audience.

But this is absolutely a perfect movie. How is it perfect? First of all, every moment, every scene, every line of dialogue propels the story forward in a meaningful, forceful, convincing, and deeply human way. Deeply human? Yes. The characters are thoroughly human and complex, fully imagined and developed, both in the writing and the excellent performances. The story itself is constructed in a highly economical, brilliant way. For example, the reversal in dynamism between 'stern mother' and 'indulgent father' is not only interesting in terms of development; those shifts are utterly convincing as they arise organically from dynamics internal to the story and to the (highly difficult) circumstances each character finds her or himself in. It's impressive to witness the artistry of these shifts, how well though out, convincing, and how inspired it all is. The major characters are all in deep conflict with each other, and enough is given to us to understand and sympathize with each of their positions. That's uncommon in stories, in any story, whether novels or movies. This is an admirable achievement.

The climactic moment, the moment of momentous decision for the daughter Layla, this is fantastic: she drives the family truck as her means of breaking away from her father's demands, but it is precisely in driving this truck where we first saw how her father fostered her independence and self-sufficiency in ways unseemly for a young woman in their village society. The 'vehicle' by which he helped give her independence of spirit is the very vehicle by which she flees his (or his society's) oppression. Wow.

While it's not showy, it's a deeply inspired film, full of artistry and moving, human meaning.

I was vising my family in Israel and took advantage of the opportunity to watch this movie with friends. I prepared myself for a hard political movie, as some of the media said it was but found myself watching a beautiful non-political universal movie. Sure it is still a hard movie with an educational and sad message but it is a must see movie. We were 4 people and all of us were speechless in the end. Maybe as an Israeli with previous knowledge I had more insights and could understand this movie in several other levels but that doesn't mean that this is a great movie. Great job to all the cast and I hope it will succeed not only in the theaters across the world but may also be nominated for the Oscar this year. The cast and the story deserves it.

Perhaps I have to reevaluate my ingrained trust with 7 stars rating as a metric of quality, with this at 6.8 I didn't expect so high. I anticipated it to be a stereotypical, politically charged Arab's crude conservatism imagery that detach, delineate you to side clearly off the black and white character (as in social value metric not typical good and bad). Unexpectedly, it unpacks humanely with a blend of conflicting contradiction in the character far from being one dimensional, inhibited by consequence we have no clear insight about but hinted. Someone or thing is either way at stake. The father fosters a certain privilege to his daughter but hypocrite through indirect treatment to his first wife, yet you still pity him for whatever it is that inhibit him. Her mom, uptight and resentful turns out protecting her for an option her daughter deserves, more so than the more liberal father.

Halfway through I found it well put and anticipated a disappointing turn that justifies the below 7 rating. There was none. The ending is not as justly suited to what her strong personality suggested to be, by (spoiler) having her bent to tradition eventually (but well, this is real life). She remained guarded unmannerly at the end. The new husband's hint of submissive reaction draws him less of a typical antagonist. Made you think that fairness aside, it has yet been proven to be dramatically a whole lot of wrong turn, just like real life: some options might be not entirely bad but not wanting it in the first place compromised some degree of unsatisfactory or happiness.

Ever so subtly like a friend pulling your arm gently, this film pulls your into the world of women and how suffocating it is for them. Across nearly four generations. With the fourth one standing at the window of womanhood but not there yet. It will tell you how their voices are muted, how their choices are compromised, how emotions, feelings, their conscience, society, reputation are all used against them. The mother is the best actor I've seen in a Long time on screen. The amount of pain, frustration, anguish she conveys with so much subtlety is mind numbing. The Daughter was stellar too. Sumbolism and metaphor used time and again in the form of tunnels, windows, make up, weddings as a societal device. Gorgeous film. One of the best I've seen offlate. Kudos to the filmmaker, the crew and the actors. Phenomenal.