Writer-director Sam Mullins makes an impressive feature début with this smart, engaging and warm romantic-comedy, Amira & Sam starring newcomer Dina Shihabi and former Freaks & Geeks geek, Martin Starr as the titled characters.
After making the rounds through the festivals towards the end of last year, we’re approaching the release of this indie gem which tells the unlikely love story of a former soldier (Starr) recently back from tour in Iraq and an Iraqi refugee (Shihabi) with a dislike for soldiers due to the events that happened to her family in Iraq. Sam is struggling to adapt back to civilian life, such is the common story among ex-Soldiers, and he refuses to take any hand outs in the form of government compensation. When he looks up his former Iraqi translator, Bassam (Laith Nakli) to fulfil a promise he made him, he meets Bassam’s niece, Amira, who refuses to speak to Sam due to his history in the US Army. When Amira gets into trouble with the Police, she is forced to accept Sam’s help to keep her safe from the risk of being deported back to Iraq. As the two grow closer, Amira learns to see past Sam’s army history and the two begin to embark on a daring and unique relationship.
Amira & Sam is a heartfelt film that challenges prejudice that currently plagues society and the corrupt system that we seem to not only live in, but accept.
The film really follows two key story’s; at the heart of the film is the unique relationship between Amira and Sam, with Sam’s story with his quite obviously shifty cousin, Charlie (Paul Wesley) playing second fiddle. Charlie brings Sam into his hedge fund to help secure lucrative investments from wealthy Army veterans by using Sam’s military background.
It’s commonplace that at some point every comedic actor trys their hand at the dramatic role, and for Martin Starr the time is now. And while Amira & Sam isn’t quite an all out dramatic role, it has enough to warrant a performance from Starr and one that he rises up to. Newcomer Dina Shihabi equally impresses alongside Starr and you’d think she was a veteran of film in her own right, while Paul Wesley and Laith Nakli keep the standards up as the supporting roles to the story.
Amira & Sam has been touted as a romantic-comedy that breathes fresh life into the genre and it’s hard to argue against that bold statement. It really does feel different to the usually whimsical, often eye-rolling Hollywood romantic-comedies we’re used to.
Review Overview
Amira & Sam is released on January 30th, check out this link to where you can see it as well as VOD releases: http://drafthousefilms.com/film/amira-sam#watch
Recent Comments