Shéhérazade: Au-delà du paradis

A deliciously fresh take on the modern love story with gripping dramatic moments. It's a poetic, passionate film that loves its characters. I could not take eyes off of star Francia Raisa from the moment she graced the screen. She wholly embodies the role of Shahrzad and nails every emotion too a tee -- lust, shame, self-loathing, fear, artistic passion, and so much in between -- as the haunted and conflicted woman who escapes her oppressive homeland, and becomes the center of a complex love triangle in her newfound Western surroundings.

Ryan Guzman not only looks GOOD as Sebastian, the Spanish American gardener who captures the heart of Shahrzad, but really delivers both charm and sensitivity needed to set the sparks really do fly between the two of them.

Strong performances from the supporting cast -- especially impressive is Daphne Zuniga as a former movie star turned piano teacher also entangled in a love affair with Sebastian.

The characters also boast their own love affairs, so to speak, with the poems of Rumi and Lorca which playfully tie into the story. The soothing music of Tchaikovsky and Persian classical music effectively amp up the emotional level of the story, paired with equally rhythmic and playful visual intercutting. Great film all around.

A quiet film that can easily be discarded as just a romance with two good looking young film stars (Ryan Guzman and Francia Raisa), but it touches on many social issues, such as surviving breast cancer, cultural differences, women's rights and violence against women. What makes this film unique is it's ability to combine classic poetry (Rumi and Lorca) with classical music (Tchaikovsky, Iranian music)weaving the story through its journey. Also note worthy are the other actors: Daphne Zuniga, Misha Crosby, Maz Amini and Yareli Arizmendi. This isn't a film you want to put on in the back ground while doing laundry. Watch it for its many subtleties.

I watched it with my 20 years old daughter, and we both loved it very much. it's very romantic, touching story line, and great act by Ryan, Francia and Max. loved the poems and songs in the movie. Francia played as a Persian girl, and she did great. Ryan did a fantastic romantic act. RUMI poems were picked very well for this movie, and beautiful voice singing them. it brought up the women issues in Iran, which touched me a lot. I liked the original dialogue. the film is original, pointing to issues in the world such as tortures, forced immigration, forced marriage and relationships.

great movie to watch.

​I really enjoyed watching this beautiful ​original​ ​love​ story​ starring Ryan Guzman. He did a great job playing poetic lover, usually I saw him as an action hero in films. There are many romantic moments in the movie, which remind me of ​great​ amour​ films I watched when was living in Europe. BEYOND PARADISE​ is full of unexpected moments​,​ and the dialogue is​ fresh and very well ​ written​.​ Plus the movie has RUMI & LORCA's love poems. Also the music score contains captivating classical music (Tchaikovsky) and Eastern music.​ ​ I recommend the film as it also ​deals with​ very deep ​current women issues​, which will touch everyone. I watched it on iTunes platform, which I usually use for watching the films, but it's available everywhere now.

It is an opening into the how love is perceived as a consequential emotion by many people through many cultures, rather than being acted upon with the presumed support of the family and community. MIsha Crosby as Ray brought such a dimension of realism to the plot, truly a fantastic performance. I believe the characters have interacted with each other in believable ways. It was also very refreshing to watch Max Amini's character, who plays a comedian, play through this film experiencing serious life and marital dilemmas, rather than hype up his comedic career and force a constant "funny man" character. Through the film, Rumi poems and implications are placed organically and help the viewer to sympathize with Shahrzad and her struggle coping between unrequited love and searing pains from the past.