AllMovie

This documentary takes viewers inside Bassan's and Mariam's lives and also provides a glimpse into the lives of other members of their extended family. The film doesn't devote too much time to exploring the political and economic situation in the West Bank, but it does provide some insight into how these problems affect the lives of ordinary people. Likewise, the film doesn't delve into the history of arranged marriages, but it does provide some insight into what it means to be in one. The most compelling parts of the movie address the difficulties experienced by people as they try to maintain their optimism and good humor while coping with the adversities of daily life: Bassam working multiple jobs to make ends meet; Miriam and her sister-in-law Sinora waiting endlessly in Ramallah for an opportunity to join their husbands in the United States; and Miriam's difficulty in adjusting to life in Cleveland. The film does not provide a very happy portrait, as life in both Ramallah and the United States seems bleak and lonely for different reasons. But the movie isn't completely dour, since it shows human determination and even offers some amusing moments. The film could have benefited from a little more background information on Bassam's life, including his imprisonment by the Israeli authorities before moving to the United States and his first marriage (whose failure prompted him to seek an arranged marriage). But this is still an affecting movie that does a good job making us feel Bassam's and Mariam's lives.