Cinema Society

AMREEKA

Average
Rating

4

Tuesday, September 08, 2009, AMC La Jolla 12 Theatres

Invited Guest: Writer-Diretor Cherien Dabis

Our 26th Season Opener!

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

5:00PM-7:30PM: Membership passes and welcome gifts will be distributed this evening in the upstairs balcony above the AMC La Jolla 12 Theatre.

7:00PM: Cinema Chat with Andy, Auditorium 4

7:10PM: Introduction, Auditorium 4

7:15PM: Introduction, Auditorium 5

7:30PM: Short MAKE A WISH (12 Minutes) followed by AMREEKA, Auditoriums 4&5

Discussion will follow screening in Auditorium 4

AMC La Jolla 12 Theatres

Our 26th Season Opener!

Salute to Filmmaker Cherien Dabis

MAKE A WISH / 12 Minutes

7:30pm: Auditoriums 4 & 5

We begin our opening night program will a screening of writer/director Cherien Dabis’ heartfelt award winning short from 2006-- MAKE A WISH-- about eleven-year-old Mariam, who is determined to get a birthday cake, but despite her savings and the bit of change her mother can dig from an empty purse, she comes up short of the cash needed to buy the cake she desires.

PLEASE NOTE: MAKE A WISH is in Arabic with English subtitles.

Followed by:

Winner, Critics Prize, Directors Fortnight, Cannes Film Festival

AMREEKA

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. In America, as her son navigates high school hallways the way he used to move through military checkpoints, the indomitable Muna scrambles together a new life cooking up falafel burgers as well as hamburgers at the local White Castle.

Told with heartfelt humor by writer-director Cherien Dabis in her feature film debut, Amreeka is a universal journey into the lives of a family of immigrants and first-generation teenagers caught between their heritage and the new world in which they now live and the bittersweet search for a place to call home. A National Geographic Entertainment Release, it’s scheduled to open commercially in San Diego on October 2nd at Landmark’s La Jolla Village Cinemas.

Running Time: 96 Minutes

Rated PG-13 for brief drug use involving teens, and some language.

PLEASE NOTE: AMREEKA is in English and in Arabic with English subtitles.

Send a Comment

8-Oct-09: M.Roe - Rating: 4

What a great season opener, Guest Speaker included (always a nice addition to the evening). I liked this film because it brings light to a story that I don't think most people are aware of. Though some could say it is relatable on the level of everyday prejudices, I think this is more specific to the immigrants plight....the relief of leaving an unpleasant and unstable native land to a "land of the free" that is suppose to welcome them with open arms and hand them $/home/livelihood and solve all their problems only to be met with culture shock and bigotry. Insightful while entertaining.

23-Sep-09: Mark - Rating: 5

It's easy to underestimate the skill with which this modest but outstanding movie was made. The story is told beautifully -- with sympathy, humor, and a delicate sensibility. Cherien Dabis, whose presence at the screening greatly enriched the experience, is a talented young director from whom I hope we will see many more fine films.

16-Sep-09: ms - Rating: 4

Very enjoyable - wonderful cast and Ms Dabis was delightful

A great start for the season

14-Sep-09: pb - Rating: 4

Great choice for starting the season. The director really made us feel the characters' challenges. Casting was great. Well done.

12-Sep-09: ebee - Rating: 4

I enjoyed this movie. So many moments transcended culture, especially where the kids were concerned. You did get the feeling that coming to America was not always the “promise fulfilled” that immigrants think it will be and in that regard I felt it was a bit like Lost Boys of Sudan. I thought the actor who played the son was terrific.

12-Sep-09: jh - Rating: 3

Andy's films often raise our consciousness. This summer's THE COVE and last week's AMREEKA both attemped to do just that. AMREEKA succeeded where THE COVE did not because of Cherien Dabis' ability to entertain while we were being enlightened.