Jacir

As a daughter of immigrants, this film gave me a deeper and tearful appreciation of the real life struggles my parents went through seeking a new beginning in search of the American Dream.

Malek Rhabani brought Jacir to life. The raw emotion he boldly delivered on screen touched me--from the pain of isolation, injustice and racism, to the compassion, kindness and humanity he showed to a woman (Lorraine Bracco) who frankly didn't deserve it. What a phenomenal performance!

Lorraine Bracco's performance elicited feelings of anger for her character's ignorance, but also pity and compassion. It was a reminder of the human connection that we all need.

What a beautifully acted film and labor of love.

The movie is centered around a Syrian refugee named Jacir living in Memphis, Tennessee trying to learn English and adapt to an American lifestyle. During his journey he faces racism, discrimination, poverty, drug use and the constant looming threat of deportation. This movie is a realistic and raw depiction of what the American dream can look like for anyone impoverished struggling to get by.

I love the how raw and real this movie feels at times especially when dealing with topics like race, the complexity of racism and poverty. Tut Weezy did an amazing job here for his acting debut can't wait to see more from him in the future, the only things I disliked where the music selection(Tut Weezy has more popular songs they could have used) writing/pacing towards the middle and end of movie starts to feel like it's in a rush to wrap things up. They're a few plot holes because of this and off screen conflicts that somehow resolved themselves along with the fact we never learn much about Jacir's past and why he feels so compelled to help Meryl still defiantly worth a watch.

If you love movies based on great, real-life stories then this one is for you. Based in the grit and grind city of Memphis, it will challenge what you think about immigration and the obstacles migrants have to overcome when seeking legal citizenship. Masterfully written and presented by Waheed AlQawasmi, it will rival any big budget studio offering. Best of all, it will make you think, cry, laugh out loud and leave you wanting to know more about what happens to Jacir. The original soundtrack, sourced entirely by the Director, Al Kapone and Boo Mitchell, is strongly influenced by rap and the delta blues.

The soundtrak deserves a life of its own! Great performances by Lorraine Bracco, Malek Rahbani and Tutweezy.

Great film! The performances of the main characters convey emotions and complexities that keep you excited and waiting for the next scene throughout the movie.

Very interesting topic that touches on difficulties and struggles a lot of people endure in their daily life. People immigrating across the world after loosing everything back home, leaving behind all the good and bad memories, family members and friends, seeking a future they thought they could pursue in a western country like the US , not knowing that they will encounter a lot of people that are not accepting with no empathy.

However, the movie ends on a good note to prove that good always wins in this world no matter what, and that regardless of race, color, religion, sex, social class, we're all the same human beings.

I encourage everyone to watch it!

By far one of the best movies of this century. The amazing performances of both Malek Rahbani and Lorraine Bracco was so immensely captivating that I could not look away from the screen. The interactions between the characters are genuine and authentic, enhancing the beauty of the story. Their nuanced performance captures the subtleties and complexities of their characters making them relatable and compelling especially as a daughter to immigrant parents. Seeing the differences in life between Jacir and Meryl really bring to light the every day difficulties these two humans have. Definitely a must see.