The Syrian Bride (2004)

Intersting but unsatisfying ending

This is a pretty interesting film about an area you don't hear a lot about in the news. It covers issues of family relationships in a society that is torn between a lot of different loyalties, and some geopolical issues between Syria and the Golan. The movie is incredibly anti-climatic. Everything seems to be building towards a problem and then the movie basically ends with the scene that's on the cover. My students enjoyed the movie but felt cheated by the ending. I suppose in an artistic sense the ending makes sense, but for entertainment purposes you might be unsatisfied. Overall though I can say this movie is worth checking out if you are interested in this part of the world. October 4, 2008

Very fast service

The DVD has been sent to me from USA - and it arrived amazingly fast. I appreciate this kind of perfect service. Thank you May 9, 2008

The Syrian Bride

This movie is an amazing window into a particular Arab culture that is not shown much in the Western world. I highly recommend this movie to anyone remotely interested in the Middle East, and especially the Levantine region. August 26, 2007

Approved

I agree with the Amazon.com review that says this is a film about borders and the "absurdities of bureaucracy." Not only that, but it is a good depiction of life for the Druze of the Golan Heights. Officially part of Israel, this peculiar people mostly claims loyalty to neighboring Syria, who lost the territory in the 1967 War but still refuses to recognize Israel's dominion over it. Obviously this makes for a tense situation between the two countries and the Druze are stuck in the middle.

The story is about a bride on the Israeli side of the border who is engaged to man (whom she has never met) on the Syrian side. The first part of the film is all about the bride's family and community and the delicate inner-workings thereof. This apparently gives the viewer a good insight into the typical life of the Druze. As an American, I of course found this society to be a bit peculiar, but I'm sure they would say the same about me. The second part of the film follows the bridal party as they try to make their way through checkpoints and border stations to meet the groom in Syria. This seemingly simple process turns out to be a bureaucratic nightmare and it drives home the reality of living in such a polarized region of the world. Again as an American I found it ridiculous that such a minor thing as a stamp could cause so much difficulty, but such is life in the Golan Heights!

Overall, this was a solid film. First-rate production quality, solid acting, and intricate yet moving storyline. There wasn't any action or anything really exciting, but it was an insightful, and seemingly true-to-life film. 'The Syrian Bride' gets PK's stamp of approval. August 15, 2007

Nationality, Undefined ~ Borders And Boundaries That Confine Us All

Note: Arabic with English subtitles.

'The Syrian Bride' released in '04 is a magnificent and profound examination of the many boundaries that divide individuals, families, religious communities, political persuasions and national identities. The setting is the Golan Heights played out against the backdrop of the northern border between Israel and Syria. A community of Druze have a wedding to celebrate, the bride on the Israeli side, the groom on the Syrian side.

When the moment arrives for the bride to give up her Israeli citizenship and cross the border never to return to her homeland the myriad of difficulties that arise during her attempted crossing can be viewed on numerous of levels;

1- A fascinating political statement on the absurd and uncompromising tatics used on both sides of the border to make the crossing difficult that only worsens the attitudes of both Arab and Jew.
2- An allegorical statement on the loss of humanity and personal identity caught in the wheels of bureaucracy and national interests.
3- A symbolic image of the various types and forms of borders that divide us that can only be overcome if someone is willing to take a chance and be bold enough to take the first step towards reconcillation.

Amazing film and another superb perfomance by the lovely Hiam Abbass. My highest rating: 5 Stars! August 11, 2007

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