Chameleon (Best Feature Film)
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Arranged2007
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Rochel is an Orthodox Jew and Nasira a Muslim of Syrian origin. They are both beautiful young teachers at a public school in Brooklyn. They also have something else in common: they are going through the process of getting "arranged marriages" through their respective religious and traditional customs. With both family pressure on the one hand and the rejection of traditional values by the outside world on the other, Rochel and Nasira will have to rely on each other and their friendship to pull through this difficult time of their lives, striving to be strong women in charge of their own happiness while keeping their deep religious and cultural convictions.
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3 members like this review
Rochel, an Orthodox Jew, and Nasira, a devout Muslim, are two teachers at a Brooklyn elementary school who become close friends. Both are facing attempts by their respective families to arrange their marriages according to each individual’s respective religious customs. The situation is made more complex by virtue of the fact that both women are strong willed individuals, and, along with the arranged marriage issue, also face together the conflict of social prejudices from people within each of their ethnic backgrounds in conjunction with their close friendship and association. Rochel is the more rebellious of the two, chafing at the bit when her parents engage her in the Orthodox Jewish ritual of matchmaking while Nasira is a bit more accepting of her religion’s marriage customs. The film subsequently develops into an amazing and charming dissection of their experiences both as friends and as members of two quite different cultural and religious backgrounds. The actresses who play Rochel and Nasira are outstanding and give the film the necessary impetus to fully engage the viewer and achieve acceptance of what eventually leads into a happy ending for both women.
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Starring
- Doris Belack - Elona
- Francis Benhamou - Nasira Khaldi
- Trevor Braun - Avi Meshenberg
- Marcia Jean Kurtz - Principal Jacoby
- Mimi Lieber - Sheli Meshenberg
- Zoe Lister-Jones - Rochel Meshenberg
- Daniel London - Elliot
- Arian Moayed - Ahmed Khaldi
- Laith Nakli - Abdul-Halim Khaldi
- John Rothman - Matan Meshenberg
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Member Reviews (9)
top reviewer
Rochel, an Orthodox Jew, and Nasira, a devout Muslim, are two teachers at a Brooklyn elementary school who become close friends. Both are facing attempts by their respective families to arrange their marriages according to each individual’s respective religious customs. The situation is made more complex by virtue of the fact that both women are strong willed individuals, and, along with the arranged marriage issue, also face together the conflict of social prejudices from people within each of their ethnic backgrounds in conjunction with their close friendship and association. Rochel is the more rebellious of the two, chafing at the bit when her parents engage her in the Orthodox Jewish ritual of matchmaking while Nasira is a bit more accepting of her religion’s marriage customs. The film subsequently develops into an amazing and charming dissection of their experiences both as friends and as members of two quite different cultural and religious backgrounds. The actresses who play Rochel and Nasira are outstanding and give the film the necessary impetus to fully engage the viewer and achieve acceptance of what eventually leads into a happy ending for both women.
3 members like this review
Terrific film! It was nice to see a film about conflicts and religion that don't automatically involve the protagonist having to reject their traditional values but rather working within that system to get where they need to be.
2 members like this review
This is a "feel good" movie that is well acted and well crafted. It pulls at one's "heart strings" and it is quite obvious in what it is doing but, none the less, it is a pleasant trip while one is pulled along to the conclusion. Sometimes one just wants to see something simple with a "message" so clearly stated one need not even think. A great film to see with a bunch of (female) friends or with one's mother.
1 member likes this review
Need to watch especially today.
1 member likes this review
top reviewer
So so good.
This is an exceptional movie! The characters are strong women within devout and insular faith traditions. The actors capture the cultures, emotions, and faiths without caricaturing their strong ethnic and religious traditions. The lead actresses are amazing. I highly recommend this movie.
unique and teaches tolerenceP
Loved the movie, but wish it was this easy in real life...
This was a wonderful movie. We have two daughters, both married to good men. This reminded me of it all. I hope others will enjoy this movie too, as much as I did.