Good movie but grossly overrated

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Arranged (2007) was directed by Diane Crespo and Stefan C. Schaefer. (Schaefer was also the writer.) Zoe Lister Jones plays Rochel Meshenberg, a young Orthodox Jew, and Francis Benhamou play Nasira Khaldi, a young Orthodox Muslim. Both young women are new teachers in the New York City school system.Both of these women accept their culture, in which arranged marriages are the accepted norm. Neither woman rejects the reality of arranged marriages. The problem is that the prospective partners are definitely not to their liking.Living in the U.S. in the 21st Century exposes the women to a society in which an arranged marriage is considered an anomaly. In fact, this is the position taken by the school's well-meaning, but dismally unaware principal. (Played by Marcia Jean Kurtz.) In fact, the intrusions of Principal Jacoby are so clumsy that all she does is alienate both women, and drive them closer together. (I think Crespo and Schaefer brought her into the movie to present what they see as the feminist viewpoint. The feminist viewpoint has a place in the film, but not in the manner in which it's portrayed.)Similarly, Rochel's visit to her non-Orthodox cousin is another clumsily portrayed view of the outside world. Women who leave the Orthodox community don't automatically gravitate to parties where everyone is drugged out.Despite these flaws, the basic plot works well. We can believe that the women would become friends. They accept each other as faithful members of a different culture and religion, and they move on from there. They can remain friends, but only on neutral turf like the school or a park, but that's OK.Both can remain firmly within their communities, but try to find happiness on their own terms. In order to learn how they move forward, you'll have to see the movie.We saw this film on DVD, and it worked very well on the small screen. It was highly recommended by a knowledgeable friend. In turn, I'm recommending it to anyone reading this review. It's definitely worth seeing.

What a remarkable film. I cannot tell you anything about who made it, why it was made, who financed it, who the main actors were and what they've done before this.I cannot say anything much about the music, the setting, or the technical details that make a great film. None of those details matter.What does matter is that it is an engaging film that speaks of the only way that Jews and Muslims are ever going to solve their difficulties.It must begin with women and not just ordinary women, but women of great incite and tolerance and dare I use the word, love.Both cultures have the word in their religion's vocabulary. The film seems to be saying learn what it means, and how to use it. The film takes for granted that both these women know what friendship means. They are bound not so much by their differences as their similarities.Basically, the plot revolves around two modern women (or at least women who have grown up in a modern world) of vastly different backgrounds. They meet at the school where they will both be teaching. One, a Muslim, has been assigned a regular grade 4 class and the other, a Jew, has been assigned to special Education - her main assignment seems to be a blind boy who understands the workings of the soul almost as well as his teacher. Certainly, he is more practical and a lot more jovial.The grade 4 class brings the problem into direct focus. They have obviously watched too much Fox News. They think that all Jews have horns (according to their Arab Neighbors) and all Arabs are bloodthirsty terrorists (according to the Jewish media). These two women work together on an idea developed by the Special Ed teacher to show that prejudice can be overcome by groups that don't allow hatred and ugly connotative words to develop at inflexibly deep levels.The scenes that follow all have to do with welcoming strangers into one's home (The Muslim family does, the Jewish one does not), choices in marriage (both girls have a problem with this, but only the Jewish woman has a problem with her family as well) or the talk that binds their friendship.I know that life is not that simple, but if we do not find alternatives to the hatred in the planet, then we will live in a hate-infested planet. Someone has to have the courage to write and speak about what can be done, not what is done. We need hopes, not 6:00 news. We need laughter and understanding, not tears and hatred. We need what this film offers.I gave this film a 10 because it offered us choices, and it did so in a way that compromises nothing of our beliefs, and did everything it could to enhance our humanity. It did it with humor, good will, common sense and a little bit of cunning, but just a little.

Nasira and Rochel are the daughters of a Koranic scholar and Orthodox Jewish fathers beginning their teaching careers at a NY elementary school, who are drawn together by their common experience of belonging to conservative religious communities. The film's title focuses on the issue of arranged marriage, but the two women are only subjected to fairly mild forms of arm-twisting associated with this patriarchal custom. The main theme is their friendship across a cultural divide, which provides support as they resist the school principal's disapproval of their beliefs and parental pressure to marry.Nasira's father is portrayed as a traditionalist who simply cannot envision his daughter's future without marriage and children. He offers only minimal resistance when Nasira rejects his chosen prospect - and the father-daughter relationship appears to be strengthened by the episode. Meanwhile Rochel resists a comical onslaught from her mother and a gaggle of marriage arrangers when they present her with a parade of socially inept suitors. Her mother bullies her with warnings about family disgrace and lifelong spinsterhood, and blames her for her father's rising blood pressure.Francis Benhamou and Zoe Lister Jones deliver fine performances as Nasira and Rochel. They are backed up by their support cast as the screenplay and direction navigate a narrow passage between melodrama and realism. By the time the story reaches its conclusion, only the most stubborn cynic will remain immune to these unusual heroines.

I downloaded this from netflix wondering if it was any good. Wow is all I can say. The chemistry between the girls is incredible. It was a very believable relationship and the tribulations both go through seemed very genuine. This is a very uplifting film on many levels e.g. the relationships with the school children, the families, the suitors. I have to say that the Orthodox Jewish girl was an incredible actress, emoting intelligence and beauty. The Orthodox Muslim girl also came off as radiating happiness and intelligence. I would hope that this film gets more publicity and sets off a spark of amity between Jews and Muslims.