For many people, the issue of immigration is something they will never have to consider. For some, others are just a nuisance, and they may not even like to see people from other parts of the world living near them. However, for the people who experience it, for those who need to leave their countries for whatever reason, it is one of the hardest things a human being can go through. Especially when you have to do it alone and you feel like nobody wants you there. Jacir, is a new film that addresses this very issue very effectively.
Jacir is written and directed by Waheed AlQawasmi and stars Malek Rahbani, Lorraine Bracco, Tutweezy and Leila Almas Rose. The film tells the story of the titular, Jacir, a young man who has come to the US from Syria, where the war has basically destroyed his life. Jacir wishes to start a new life in the US, but is met with conflicts and obstacles from all angles. However, Jacir faces these obstacles with a positive attitude but as we all know, everyone has their limits.
Director: Waheed AlQawasmi
Writer: Waheed AlQawasmi
Stars: Lorraine Bracco, Malek Rahbani, Tutweezy
Culture shock is one of the first things an immigrant has to face in his new country. We are all human and we all have feelings, dreams, nightmares and so on, but cultures are very different. Each country and each region of each country has its own customs and traditions. Therefore, being able to adapt to your new environment may be the most important skill an immigrant can have. Without this ability, every situation becomes a struggle, and there is enough struggle in life to add to it.
For some people, that fight is inevitable. So when the film places its protagonists in these very normal situations but puts them in the perspective of someone who is not from that background, you realize that things are not as simple as they seem. The movie does a good job building drama and tension out of very small events. Events that for some are banal and inconsequential, but for Jacir, as an immigrant, are very complex and transcendental.
AlQawasmi's script is very solid. Yes, the dialogue can feel a bit stiff and forced at times, but the situations the characters find themselves in feel very real. Perhaps the inspiration comes from AlQawasmi's own experiences, but they are very well executed in the final film. There is a bit of everything in Jacir, the variety of people is great, so it feels refreshing to see a film that explores how many takes there are around the subject. A lot of other movies feel very one-sided and end up representing certain groups in exactly the same way that you don't want other groups to be represented.
Visually, the movie feels very standard. AlQawasmi and his filmmaking team aren't trying to do anything flashy when it comes to presentation, and that's perfectly fine. The very discreet images enhance this feeling of reality. In real life, nothing is perfectly framed all the time, so everything feels pretty natural, from Jacir going to work to spending time with his grumpy neighbor. An excellent lighting job is being done here. The settings never feel that way, and all the locations feel very natural. There's none of that artificial lighting that often takes you out of a movie.
The acting is also quite strong and helps to overcome the stiffness of some parts of the dialogue. Malek Rahbani plays Jacir, and he does a perfect job as the lead of the film. The actor is very charming looking, and the attitude and demeanor he brings to Jacir's character feels quite authentic. You can feel that even when Jacir adopts his positive attitude when facing certain obstacles, there is still some fear, anger and confusion behind the positive mask that can be seen. The character doesn't need to put this into words, Rahbani just shows it through his acting.
Lorraine Bracco also does an amazing job as good old Meryl. You wouldn't expect anything else from an actress like Bracco. Here she's creating a character that's very hard to like, at first, but then you start to see some great things behind it. In the end, you will fully understand her character, and even want to spend time with her despite her flaws. This is Jacir's strength as a film; it really shows that we all have our own stories and that there's a reason we are who we are.
Jacir is a very solid film. You might not get any big explosions or fantastic adventures with aliens, but you will get something much more important out of watching it; understanding and emotion. There is revelation and discovery in this film, and that is an amazing achievement.
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