A Paper Wedding (1990)

A Charmer

The film concerns an arranged marriage between a Canadian college professor and a Hispanic immigrant man who is in the country illegally and is being pursued by a Robert-Mitchum-type immigrations officer. The professor's sister happens to be the legal counsel for the immigrant, and talks her sister into agreeing to the marriage. In order to pass the required court interview to determine if the marriage is "real" as opposed to a legal contrivance, the couple must learn a great deal about each other in a short time. The more they learn, the more they see each other as human beings--and attractive ones at that.

This film's good qualities are more subtle than obvious, and are often visual rather than verbal, as we watch the play of emotion on the actors' faces. The color film quality is quite grainy and soft-focused, and handheld cameras are used a lot, giving it a quasi documentary quality. One has to get used to it, especially if one expects clear, bright images from a DVD. In French and Spanish, with English subtitles. January 6, 2003

Mild romance picture, but I love it

"~When "Paper Wedding" was released it was universally described as "like 'Green Card,' only a lot better.""~ most passionate scenes I've seen, when the man and woman are trying to get their story straight before their interview with the feds. I don't mean passionate in a sex-scene sense -- it's all in the mind. Afterwards it's not certain whether these two will fall in love, but if they do it will be this conversation that started it. March 15, 2000

Quiet but stunning

Two very private people, a university professor and an illegal immigrant from political persecution, are thrown together in an arranged marriage that will give the immigrant Canadian citizenship. Each learns of a new kind of intimacy and caring. A wonderful film. December 26, 1999

Quiet but stunning

Two very private people, a university professor and an illegal immigrant from political persecution, are thrown together in an arranged marriage that will give the immigrant Canadian citizenship. Each learns of a new kind of intimacy and caring. A wonderful film. December 26, 1999

More reviews at Amazon.com ...