A few months back I wrote about a new movie that was getting rave reviews called "The Visitor." It just came to Memphis and I had the chance to see it this evening. The movie was an incredibly poignant, beautifully filmed story about immigrants in New York. One of the major parts is played by Hiam Abbass, an Israeli Arab actress who plays a Syrian immigrant in the film. I hope the Academy Awards remember the brilliant performance of Ms. Abbass and the fine work of the other actors as well (I'll try and include them in later posts). The film itself is deserving of greater recognition and I suspect that given the outstanding reviews it's getting, it will eventually reach a wider audience.
Here's a trailer from the movie. If you haven't seen it, you're missing a great film.
You're right. I was trying to figure out last night whether to say Arab Israeli or Israeli Arab. I'll make the change.
Posted by: Greg Siskind | June 22, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Mr. Siskind,
The proper description for the actress ethnic backgrond is is "Israeli-Arab" not "Israeli-Arabic" since Arabic is a language not a race.
With regards.
Basil
Posted by: Basil | June 22, 2008 at 08:42 PM
I think one of the interesting parts of the storyline here was the fact that many people illegally here are people who started legally, tried to stay legal and were ultimately unsuccessful. While it's easy for us to say - well, just go home. That's a decision that can be more complicated. In the storyline here, the Syrian family came to the US because the father was a journalist imprisoned for seven years for writing a story at odds with the leadership of the country. After he dies in Syria weeks after being released, the family comes to America. Going back to Syria versus staying illegally in the US? What would you do? And for those of you who don't believe that a good asylum case like this one could be denied, talk to an immigration lawyer and you'll get an education.
Posted by: Greg Siskind | June 22, 2008 at 08:01 AM
Hate group, FAIR, now resorts to private lawsuits. How despicable!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/nyregion/22immigrant.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1214139197-ubt/HSSOWQd+N1m0PlU8hA
Posted by: USC | June 22, 2008 at 05:57 AM
"I just want to play music. What's so wrong about that?"
A very touching line in it's simplicity, I think, and one that should resonate with a lot of people who are stuck on the wrong end of legal immigration.
Obviously there's a stark difference between the reality of legal immigration (which feels like punishment at times for wanting to work with the law) and illegal immigration (as is the case in the movie), but I'm sure people can still take something away from that all the same.
The movie looks great, anyhow. Definitely one to watch. :)
Posted by: A Nony Mouse | June 22, 2008 at 03:37 AM