This is truly a sparkling gem of a movie. Rochel and Nasira are new teachers at a private school in New York City who become close friends. Rochel is an Orthodox Jew and Nasira is a devout Muslim. Both young women are at the age where it's time to have an arranged marriage.
Nasira has a less stressful time of it because her mother has no intention of making her marry someone she does not wish to marry. Her father has no intention of getting into a battle with the two of them, either. Nasira accepts the arranged marriage tradition, but she's not desperate to marry and likes her life and job.
Rochel, on the other hand, has a mother who is adamant that she make a match now. Not doing so will harm the reputation of the family, and possibly harm the chances of her younger sisters' future marriage prospects. Plus, an elderly aunt and a matchmaker are involved, so it's three against one. Her father has a starry-eyed view of matchmaking, so he's no help.
The principal of the school where they teach lectures both women about being chained down to old traditions. She tells them to dress differently and become modern-day women. She means well, but both Nasira and Rochel find her suggestions patronizing. They can accept their religions' traditions as long as they have a choice about who they marry.
Both Zoe Lister-Jones and Francis Benhamou are perfect for their roles and both are incredibly likable. The story has a nice mixture of drama and humor, too. It's one of the best movies ever made about matchmaking, as well as one of the best to show how not all intelligent modern-day women want to throw out all the old traditions.
Nasira has a less stressful time of it because her mother has no intention of making her marry someone she does not wish to marry. Her father has no intention of getting into a battle with the two of them, either. Nasira accepts the arranged marriage tradition, but she's not desperate to marry and likes her life and job.
Rochel, on the other hand, has a mother who is adamant that she make a match now. Not doing so will harm the reputation of the family, and possibly harm the chances of her younger sisters' future marriage prospects. Plus, an elderly aunt and a matchmaker are involved, so it's three against one. Her father has a starry-eyed view of matchmaking, so he's no help.
The principal of the school where they teach lectures both women about being chained down to old traditions. She tells them to dress differently and become modern-day women. She means well, but both Nasira and Rochel find her suggestions patronizing. They can accept their religions' traditions as long as they have a choice about who they marry.
Both Zoe Lister-Jones and Francis Benhamou are perfect for their roles and both are incredibly likable. The story has a nice mixture of drama and humor, too. It's one of the best movies ever made about matchmaking, as well as one of the best to show how not all intelligent modern-day women want to throw out all the old traditions.