Indywritertype

I sat down to watch this for a second time in years and was immediately pulled in again by the clever vitriol of the male character with his witty and brutally honest musings. He is wasted potential personified, recognizing many of his own failings - right up to the point of changing anything, which he refuses to do. It's just easier to curl up around a bitter glass of restaurant chianti and bleat on about how all change is for the worse.

Joining him at the restaurant, the woman breezes into the picture, all lightness and controlled gladness - the picture of elegance and change personified. She is genuinely happy to see him and ready to scoop him into a reminiscence of nostalgic affection but he won't let go of his anger at her leaving him. He refuses to truly see himself and twists their reunion into an internal pity party that manifests in leers and snide comments. And still, he is somehow a sympathetic character (oh thank you, Alan Rickman). You understand her affectionate regard, but also her healthy detachment.

The poem is fascinating and the screenplay adaptation is practically perfect in every way. The beautiful photography and luscious sound editing propels this poem into an incarnate, omnisensory, and very human experience.

Saw this at the Heartland Film Festival and liked it so much I saw it a second time - and liked it even better. The screenplay is deftly done, showing the pathos of 'life after Iraq' for two people on different sides of the experience, through a lens of wry humor.

The leads are perfectly cast - Dina Shihabi totally inhabits her role as Iraqi expatriate Amira, and Martin Starr proves his "leading man" chops as thoughtful, resilient vet Sam Seneca. These two meet while struggling to integrate (in quite different ways) into New York/American society. Although they initially clash, their ultimate willingness to see each other as individuals becomes a source of strength and love, through which they're able to better face their personal challenges.

Writer/director Sean Mullin gives depth to his characters and heart to his story which lets you dissolve into Sam & Amira's situation, and perhaps experience a gently altered perspective as well as a lingering glow for their simply fine love story.