Writer-director Cherien Dabis too easily resolves or dismisses the characters' problems, making way for an upbeat ending.
Comment
12/18/09
Amreeka (2009)
87
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:53
Fresh:46
Rotten:7
Average Rating:7/10
Consensus: A dramedy that's got a taste for the tragic as well as the poignantly comic, Amreeka adds a new sweetness to the hope and distress of the immigrant experience.
Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating]
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release:Sep 4, 2009 Limited
Box Office: $417,889
Synopsis: AMREEKA chronicles the adventures of Muna, a single mother who leaves the West Bank with Fadi, her teenage son, with dreams of an exciting future in the promised land of small town Illinois. ... [More]
Starring: Nisreen Faour, Melkar Muallem, Hiam Abbass, Yussuf Abu-Warda
Director: Cherien Dabis
Get This Movie
Rent DVD
Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.
Buy DVD
Reviews for Amreeka
Top CriticAmreeka is only one of a number of recent immigrant tales to hit theaters, but with its blend of sweet humor and topical relevance, it's one of the more compelling -- and surprising -- in some time.
12/11/09
Dabis wisely keeps her film firmly grounded in the personal and specific...focusing on the experiences of one family which she makes us care about.
11/20/09
It's the humanity of the work that makes it resonate and the insight into a culture closed to most Australians that makes it illuminating
11/13/09
Writer director Cherien Dabis writes about what she knows about being a stranger in a new land: the difficulties, the isolation, the conflicts, the misunderstandings. The result is a heartfelt and engaging film
11/13/09
The movie is insightful in its depiction of Palestinian suffering and the insensitivity of the United States. Faour is very appealing in the lead role, making great use of her hope-filled eyes.
10/30/09
You can try to resist it, but by the time Cherien Dabis’ writing/directing effort is over, you’ll be completely sucked in.
10/30/09
Amreeka is a sweet-natured film about the experiences of a Palestinian woman and her teenage son when they emigrate to Illinois.
10/30/09
A feel-good comedy about a Palestinian mother who moves to rural Illinois with her teenaged son, Amreeka is a kind of stealth political film that confronts issues of ethnic tension and American xenophobia.
10/30/09
Top CriticAmreeka makes its points with gentle humour and engaging performances -- especially Faour, who makes Muna so likeable it's impossible not to cross your fingers and hope her luck is about to change.
10/30/09
Top CriticDirector Cherien Dabis' debut feature is a surprising, humorous, moving and very human story about a Palestinian family's emigration to Illinois on the eve of the Iraq war.
10/15/09
Top CriticA good-hearted film about the resilience of the human spirit.
10/14/09
Top CriticDirector-writer Cherien Dabis drew the story from life..., and the script is brimming with tiny details that lend it authenticity.
10/09/09
The movie is honest about the way it depicts family relationships and racial prejudices. A believable and fresh-faced cast also helps in that regard.
10/08/09
The immigrant experience gets a fresh, post- 9/11 Palestinian spin in Amreeka, a film that has all the familiar ingredients but is such a well-acted, winning re-combination of those that we see them with fresh eyes.
10/02/09
As much as I enjoyed spending time with these characters, it's hard not to bristle at the overall After-School Special vibe.
09/29/09
You keep rooting for these characters, even as the plot takes a series of broad and overly familiar turns.
09/25/09
Top CriticFaour, in an Oscar-worthy performance, renders Muna in shades of love and hope.
09/25/09
An earnest comedy-drama, which covers familiar territory but in an unpretentious, and so reasonably pleasant fashion.
09/24/09
As poignant as it is buoyant.
09/24/09
Latest News for Amreeka
September 05, 2009:
Trailer & Poster review 
More...
March 17, 2009:
National Geographic Is Coming to Amreeka
National Geographic Entertainment has purchased the rights to the Sundance favorite "Amreeka," securing a theatrical run for the drama about a Palestinian family's experiences... More...
RT On Current TV
What’s Hot On RT
Fresh Links
Featured
MSN's Year in Review
Take a look at MSN's choices for the Top 10 films of 2009.
Moviefone's Year End Movie Poll
What were your favorites? Least favorites? The funniest and scariest? Moviefone wants to know!
Tarantino's Characters
Hollywood.com explores why QT's characters resonate so well with audiences.
Top 10 Movies of 2009
TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.
Top 20 of the Decade
Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!
IGN RSS Feeds