Amira & Sam

Last updated
Amira & Sam
AmiraadSamPoster.jpg
Directed by Sean Mullin
Screenplay bySean Mullin
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDaniel Vecchione
Edited byJulian Robinson
Music byHeather McIntosh
Production
companies
  • Five By Eight Productions
  • Hole in 1 Productions
  • Strongman
  • Vanishing Angle
Distributed by Drafthouse Films
Release dates
  • May 30, 2014 (2014-05-30)(Seattle International Film Festival)
  • January 30, 2015 (2015-01-30)(US)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$31,849

Amira & Sam is a 2014 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Sean Mullin and produced by Terry Leonard, Erich Lochner, and Matt Miller with executive producers James Ponsoldt, Meg Montagnino-Jarrett, and Peter Sobiloff. Set in New York City, the film is about Sam, an American soldier, and Amira, an illegal immigrant from Iraq. Drafthouse Cinemas has the distribution rights. [1]

Contents

The film has several story elements, including capitalism, immigration, life after the military, and attempting to be successful in the entertainment world. [2]

Plot

The film is set in New York City in 2008, prior to the Great Recession. [2] Sam Seneca, a soldier who had served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, meets Amira Jafari when he visits her uncle, Bassam Jafari, who had served as Sam's Iraqi translator. Bassam and Sam have a special bond due to their time together in the war.

Initially Amira does not trust him because he was an American soldier and her brother was killed by a bomb from American troops in the war. After getting fired from his job as a security guard for punishing a group of rude people, Sam's cousin, Charlie Seneca, asks Sam to help him with illegal hedge funds; the true status of the legality is unbeknownst to Sam at the time. Amira is staying with her uncle Bassam since her father died.

She sells bootlegged films on the street corner but is forced to flee after getting busted. Bassam calls Sam to inform him of what happened with Amira and asks him to let Amira stay with him. Sam agrees and goes to Amira and Bassam's apartment to get Amira. Amira tells Sam that she cannot go back to Iraq because it became too dangerous for her after her family started helping American soldiers.

Bassam tried to claim her as a dependent but they had trouble with the courts. Therefore, if Amira was arrested, she would be deported to Iraq as an illegal immigrant. Although reluctant at first Amira eventually agrees to go and stay with Sam. Sam and Amira begin spending time together with both learning to enjoy the company of the other and slowly beginning to fall in love.

While at a gathering with Charlie and his friends from work, Sam learns from one of Charlie's friends that Charlie's hedge funds that he has been helping Charlie with may be illegal. He confronts Charlie over it but Charlie denies this is the case. Back at Sam's apartment, Sam and Amira share a bed and Amira reveals that she read Sam's notebook of jokes that he had written when Sam hoped to become a stand up comedian but didn't do so well.

After an exchange of words the two kiss, but do not become too intimate. The next day at Charlie's invitation, Sam and Amira attend a party Charlie is having. While at the party Sam only becomes more suspicious of Charlie's hedge funds. Amira meanwhile faces certain degrees of racism, particularly from Sam's Uncle Nick Seneca, who tells Sam that he was in 4 World Trade Center when the September 11 attacks occurred and watched three of his friends die when the Twin Towers were hit with planes.

Not wanting to be involved in Charlie's hedge funds and displeased with the party and guests Sam decides to leave. Charlie tries to stop him which results in a brief scuffle between the two cousins. Amira attempts to intervene but unintentionally hits Charlie's pregnant wife Claire Seneca in the commotion.

Sam and Amira leave the party and head back to Sam's apartment. After sharing a moment of passion, Sam and Amira have sex. The next morning, two police officers arrive and arrest Amira saying that she's being charged with assaulting Claire. Bassam arrives at the police station where Sam is already waiting.

One of the police officers involved in the arrest informs Sam and Bassam that it was revealed that Amira is an illegal immigrant and will be released on bail tomorrow and will be deported back to Iraq the day after. Sam meets with Charlie later where Sam tells him that Amira is being deported. Although Charlie says that he'll have Claire drop the charges Sam tells him it's too late and again asks Charlie about his hedge funds.

Charlie comes clean and confirms that they are illegal but that he's rigged the system so that no one would ever find out about it. Later that night, Amira calls Sam from jail and confesses her love for him and asks to spend one last day together with him.

The next day, Sam comes over to Bassam and Amira's apartment where Bassam says that he is going back to Iraq with Amira to look after her despite Amira's protests. Bassam asks Sam to leave but Amira firmly states that she's spending her last day with Sam.

The two go out and enjoy an entire day of passion. At the end of the day Amira asks Sam to try his luck at stand up comedy for her. He does so and has good success. On stage Sam confesses his love for Amira and asks her in Arabic to run away together with him. Amira agrees and asks where but Sam says that he doesn't know and doesn't care. The next day, without Sam's help Charlie's hedge funds don't go through and Sam and Amira leave a note for Bassam.

Sam and Amira tell Bassam that they are leaving New York City to be together and avoid Amira's deportation and that they will be in touch as soon as they settle down somewhere else. Bassam smiles happily understanding Sam and Amira's love and knowing that he and Amira will not have to go back to Iraq. Sam and Amira are then seen leaving New York City looking forward to a bright future together.

Cast

Nabila Pathan of Al Arabiya wrote that the film's protagonists, Amira and Sam, both have "non-conformist" attitudes. [3]

Sean Mullin makes a cameo as the host of a stand-up comedy routine in which Sam performs. [3]

Background

Mullin, a former member of the New York Army National Guard, had performed stand-up comedy and was a first responder in the September 11 attacks. He decided to create the film after hearing about friends in the U.S. military trying to get asylum for their Iraqi translators. [3]

Production

Much of the film was shot on Staten Island. [8]

Shihabi and Naikli used an Iraqi dialect coach, [3] one of Nakli's friends, to refine their Arabic. Shihabi's native dialect is a form of Levantine Arabic while she used Iraqi Arabic in the film. [7]

Nakli also served as an associate producer in recognition of the contributions he made to the film. [3]

The director, Mullin, used suggestions from the actors to shape the film and there were periods where actors improvised. [7]

At the end of the movie, the song "Havre de Grace" by Zerobridge was played.

Release

The release was scheduled for early 2015. A limited theatrical release was planned, [1] scheduled for January 30, 2015. A video on demand release was scheduled for the same day. [13] In addition the film was to be available on home video and digital formats. [1] Amira & Sam grossed $31,849 at the box office. [14]

Reception

Catsoulis wrote that the film is "more successful as a portrait of veteran alienation than as a romance." [9]

Linden wrote that it is "a considerable feat" that the film "manages to be engaging and unforced for a good portion of its running time" and that the "low-key warmth" of the main actors is among the most positive elements of the film. [2] She added that "Nothing feels truly at stake, no matter how weighty the risks the characters face". [2]

O'Hehir stated that despite implausibilities in the film, its romance "worked on me, or at least it made me wish that the world of Sam and Amira’s wonderful and unlikely love affair really existed. It’s a better world than ours." [8] O'Hehir added that even though the film had good intentions and any cultural mistakes "are exceptionally mild", "If enough people see this movie, it’s possible that Mullin will come under attack for eroticizing or exoticizing an Arab woman, and/or disrespecting Islam." [8]

Schager gave the movie a "C" ranking, arguing that it was generic even though it had a cultural divide as a theme. Schager criticized the nature of Sam Seneca. [10]

Ben Sachs of the Chicago Reader stated that the "message of tolerance" was "heavy-handed", the romance "unconvincing", and the financial subplot "feels totally misguided". [15]

John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the romantic chemistry between Amira and Sam was "just right". [16]

Alan Scherstuhl of the Village Voice wrote that the film had "implausibilities" but that the romance was overall "stellar". [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belle Starr</span> American outlaw (1848–1889)

Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr, better known as Belle Starr, was an American outlaw who gained national notoriety after her violent death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sayid Jarrah</span> Fictional character of the TV series Lost

Sayid Hassan Jarrah is a fictional character from the ABC show Lost portrayed by Naveen Andrews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blair Cramer</span> Soap opera character

Blair Cramer is a fictional character from the American daytime drama series One Life to Live, played since 1993 by Kassie DePaiva. Introduced as the niece of lead antagonist Dr. Dorian Cramer Lord, the role was originated by Mia Korf from 1991 through 1993.

<i>Boyhood</i> (2014 film) 2014 film directed by Richard Linklater

Boyhood is a 2014 American epic coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Richard Linklater, and starring Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater, and Ethan Hawke. Filmed from 2002 to 2013, Boyhood depicts the childhood and adolescence of Mason Evans Jr. (Coltrane) from ages six to eighteen as he grows up in Texas with divorced parents. Richard Linklater's daughter Lorelei plays Mason's sister, Samantha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Clarke</span> Fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders

Christian Clarke is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, portrayed by John Partridge. He first appeared in the show's 3,509th episode, originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on 17 January 2008, and was introduced as the brother of established character Jane Beale. He was introduced as a new homosexual character for the show, following the popularity of Coronation Street's Sean Tully. Christian and Partridge's casting were announced on 20 November 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amira Masood</span> UK soap opera character, created 2009

Amira Masood is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Preeya Kalidas. The girlfriend, and later wife, of Syed Masood, Amira first appeared on screen in the episode broadcast on 7 May 2009. The character was described as high maintenance, lonely and insecure. Amira and Syed's wedding on 1 January 2010 was watched by an average of 11.64 million viewers. Kalidas quit the show in January 2010 to concentrate on a career in music, filming her final scenes in March 2010. Her final episode was broadcast on 26 April 2010, after Amira discovered that her husband was gay and had been having an affair with Christian Clarke. She returned on EastEnders on 10 October 2011, but appeared in two extra scenes available on BBC Online and BBC Red Button called Amira's Secret, on 6 and 8 September 2011. The character departed on 8 March 2012. On 11 September 2012, it was confirmed that Kalidas would return to play Amira once more in a brief guest appearance, in the buildup to the permanent departure of Syed and Christian from the show. She returned on 6 November 2012, and departed once more on 12 November 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Mullin</span> American film director

Sean Mullin is an American film director, screenwriter and film producer.

<i>Letters to Juliet</i> 2010 American romantic drama film directed by Gary Winick

Letters to Juliet is a 2010 American romantic comedy-drama film starring Amanda Seyfried, Christopher Egan, Gael García Bernal, Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero. This was the final film of director Gary Winick before his death on February 27, 2011. The film was released theatrically in North America and other countries on May 14, 2010. The idea for the film was inspired by the 2006 non-fiction book Letters to Juliet, by Lise Eve Friedman and Ceil Jann Friedman, which chronicles the phenomenon of letter-writing to Shakespeare's most famous romantic character.

<i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i> (film) 2012 American film by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a 2012 American coming-of-age romantic drama film written and directed by Stephen Chbosky, and based on his 1999 novel of the same name. Logan Lerman stars as a teenager named Charlie who writes to an unnamed friend, and these epistles chronicle his trials, tribulations, and triumphs as he goes through his freshman year of high school. The film depicts his struggles with his, unbeknownst to him, post-traumatic stress disorder, as he goes through his journey in high school making new friends, portrayed by Emma Watson and Ezra Miller. The film's ensemble cast also includes Mae Whitman, Kate Walsh, Dylan McDermott, Joan Cusack, Nina Dobrev and Paul Rudd in supporting roles.

<i>A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night</i> 2014 film by Ana Lily Amirpour

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is a 2014 Persian-language American Western horror film written and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour. Promoted as "The first Iranian vampire Western", it stars Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Mozhan Marnò, Marshall Manesh, and Dominic Rains. It was financed in part by a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Cotton (2014 character)</span> Fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders

Charlie Cotton is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Declan Bennett. He first appeared on 10 March 2014. He was introduced as the grandson of established character, Dot Branning, played by June Brown and the son of original character, Nick Cotton. The character and casting was announced on 22 January 2014. Charlie arrived to inform Dot, who was unaware of his existence, that Nick had died, but it later transpired that this was not the truth as Nick returned in October. His storylines have included: his desperation to keep Nick's fake death secret; his relationships with Dot and mother, Yvonne Cotton ; a one-night stand with Ronnie Mitchell which resulted in her pregnancy and their marriage; the car accident that resulted in the birth of his son, Matthew Mitchell Cotton and Ronnie being left in a coma; his affair with Ronnie's sister, Roxy Mitchell ; the breakdown of his marriage and subsequent departure.

<i>Mr. Church</i> 2016 American drama film by Bruce Beresford

Mr. Church is a 2016 American drama film directed by Bruce Beresford and written by Susan McMartin. The film stars Eddie Murphy as the title character with Britt Robertson, Xavier Samuel, Lucy Fry, Christian Madsen and Natascha McElhone also starring. The movie is based on the short story "The Cook Who Came to Live with Us" written by McMartin. The film centers around a cook who becomes a caretaker and father figure to three generations of women over the years. The film debuted on April 22, 2016, at the Tribeca Film Festival and was released on September 16, 2016, by Cinelou Releasing and Freestyle Releasing. This was Murphy's first film role in four years.

<i>Love the Coopers</i> 2015 American Christmas comedy-drama film by Jessie Nelson

Love the Coopers is a 2015 American Christmas comedy-drama film directed by Jessie Nelson and written by Steven Rogers. The film stars an ensemble cast, including Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Ed Helms, Diane Keaton, Jake Lacy, Anthony Mackie, Amanda Seyfried, June Squibb, Marisa Tomei, Timothée Chalamet, Olivia Wilde and features the voice of Steve Martin, and follows a dysfunctional family who reunites for the holidays.

<i>Ill See You in My Dreams</i> (2015 film) Film by Brett Haley

I'll See You in My Dreams is a 2015 American comedy-drama film directed, co-written, and co-produced by Brett Haley. It stars Blythe Danner, Martin Starr, Sam Elliott, Malin Åkerman, June Squibb, Rhea Perlman, and Mary Kay Place. It was released on May 15, 2015 in a limited release by Bleecker Street.

<i>Princess of Rome</i> 2015 Iranian film

Princess of Rome is an Iranian computer-animated movie produced by Hamed Jafari about the life of a Christian princess, Malika, mother-to-be of Muhammad al-Mahdi, the 12th Shia Imam, and granddaughter of Caesar of Rome. The animation is 75 minutes in duration and narrates the story of Malika's journey to Samarra in Iraq to marry Hasan al-Askari, the 11th Shia Imam. She changes her name to Nargis Khatoon following the marriage.

Dina Shihabi is a Saudi Arabian actress working in the United States.

<i>24: Legacy</i> American television series

24: Legacy is an American television series created by Manny Coto and Evan Katz that aired on Fox network from February 5 to April 17, 2017. The series is a spin-off of 24 which was created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran and its premiere served as the lead-out program for Super Bowl LI before moving to its regular time slot of Monday at 8:00 p.m. The series' premiere was watched by 17.6 million people, the lowest post-Super Bowl program viewership since 2003's Alias but the most viewed episode in the franchise's history.

<i>Love Wedding Repeat</i> 2020 film by Dean Craig

Love Wedding Repeat is a 2020 romantic comedy film written and directed by Dean Craig, in his feature directorial debut. A remake of the 2012 French romantic comedy film Plan de Table, the film stars Sam Claflin, Olivia Munn and Eleanor Tomlinson. It was released on 10 April 2020 by Netflix.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Yamato, Jen. "Drafthouse Acquires Martin Starr Romance ‘Amira & Sam’" (Archive). Deadline Hollywood . Penske Business Media, LLC. August 28, 2014. Retrieved on January 28, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Linden, Sheri. "In 'Amira & Sam,' Martin Starr and Dina Shihabi add charm." Los Angeles Times . January 29, 2015. Retrieved on November 16, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Pathan, Nabila. "Rom-com on U.S. veteran, Iraqi refugee love set for silver screen." Al Arabiya . Tuesday January 6, 2015. Retrieved on 15 November 15, 2015.
  4. ↑ Harris, Will. "Martin Starr on Amira & Sam, Freaks And Geeks, odd birds, and a whole lot of fun." The A.V. Club . January 29, 2015. Retrieved on November 16, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Luther, Jessica. ""Amira & Sam" is a Rom-Com That Deals With Immigration, Identity, and Love." Bitch . February 16, 2015. Retrieved on November 15 2015.
  6. ↑ Menendez, Alicia. "Middle East-born actress Dina Shihabi on proving her mother right: “Acting has taken up my life” Archived 2017-12-26 at the Wayback Machine ." Fusion . January 28, 2015. Retrieved on November 15, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Barylski, Nicole (editor-in-chief). "INTERVIEW: Paul Wesley, Dina Shihabi, And Sean Mullin On "Amira & Sam" & The Beauty Of Improv." Hamptons.com. Retrieved on November 16, 2015. "While she speaks Arabic fluently, she speaks a Palestinian Arabic or Lebanese Arabic, so she had to learn a completely different dialect of Arabic."
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 O'Hehir, Andrew. "“Amira & Sam”: Meet the rom-com antidote to “American Sniper”" (Archive). Salon . January 28, 2015. Retrieved on January 29, 2015.
  9. 1 2 Catsoulis, Jeanette. "Take My Iraqi Niece, Please." The New York Times . January 29, 2015. Print: January 30, 2015, p. C9, New York Edition. Retrieved on February 11, 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 Schager, Nick. "Amira & Sam’s cultural divide doesn’t liven up a clichéd genre piece." The A.V. Club . January 29, 2015. Retrieved on November 17, 2015.
  11. ↑ Noh, David. "Film Review: Amira & Sam Archived 2015-02-12 at the Wayback Machine ." Film Journal International . January 30, 2015. Retrieved on February 11, 2015.
  12. ↑ Keogh, Tom. "‘Amira & Sam’ deals with love and casualties of war Archived February 12, 2015, at the Wayback Machine ." The Seattle Times . Thursday January 29, 2015. Retrieved on February 11, 2015.
  13. ↑ Rich, Katey. "This Is the Best Way to Ruin a Date at the Movies" (Archive). Vanity Fair . January 27, 2015. Retrieved on January 28, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Amira & Sam BO".
  15. ↑ Sachs, Ben. "Amira & Sam " (Archive). Chicago Reader . Retrieved on November 18, 2015.
  16. ↑ DeFore, John. "'Sam & Amira': SIFF Review" (Archive). The Hollywood Reporter . May 30, 2014. Retrieved on January 29, 2015.
  17. ↑ Scherstuhl, Alan. "Martin Starr is Grand in American-Iraqi Rom-Com Amira & Sam" (Archive). Village Voice . January 28, 2015. Retrieved on January 28, 2015. See also at Houston Press .

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.