This is the tale of the human experience told through the eyes of the women and the lost ones, well told, using a lost European as the focus of the tale, experiencing the story from the local perspective, adds to the depth of meaning. The story of the men is largely not shown, but this conflict was created by men, run by men while ignoring the plight of their families. A fitting tale.
22 Reviews
I've seen a lot of bad movies... This isn't one of them.
blucrz4 December 2020
I almost didn't watch it because of the ridiculously low rating. It's a nice, authentic, non-hollywood movie. No CGI, or dreadfully ludicrous, unrealistic fight sequences. It felt honest and authentic, like a good indie film should be.
I Expect More
syahputraeqqi13 August 2020
To be honest, I expected more from this film. I felt this film fulfilled the value of the hollywood verse rather than fulfilling the story that this film wanted to lift. I really like how this film tries to raise family conflicts set in Africa, with Islam as its theme. But in some parts, I feel the interpretation of Islam here is messy when there is a Hollywood romance verse here. I mean, how can a woman for years adhere to strong holy teachings, but like collapsing when she meets a man (played by Yahya Abdul Maten). apart from that, i really like acting dakota fanning. The Arabic that Fanning does is practically perfect, and also, how she prays, and behaves as Islam.
Despite everything, the backstory that is lifted from the main character here is very interesting. it is very rare that we can find hollywood films that carry stories based on Islam. not a lot of cinematography and special scoring, but the story is quite interesting despite all the flaws and verses.
Despite everything, the backstory that is lifted from the main character here is very interesting. it is very rare that we can find hollywood films that carry stories based on Islam. not a lot of cinematography and special scoring, but the story is quite interesting despite all the flaws and verses.
Good movie, better than its IMDb rating would suggest.
TxMike27 March 2021
Seems some viewers have a completely wrong impression of the story here and what it is trying to show. It depicts a very light-skinned British girl of 7 being left behind by her parents in Ethiopia, then raised by a group of Muslims. As she grew up, and studied the Koran, to her the skin color was not important. But when she as a young adult eventually is forced to leave Ethiopia for safety during the 1974 Ethiopian overthrow of dictator Haile Selassie and his government, and arrived in Great Britain, she soon found that she indeed received special treatment, compared to the native dark-skinned Ethiopians.
Add to that she had developed a relationship with an Ethiopian doctor who didn't escape when she did and a large part of the story here is her search for him and wondering if he survived.
Based on a novel, my wife and I enjoyed it at home on DVD from our public library. Good movie because it treats a subject that seems to be happening somewhere in the world at any given time, people forced to leave their country because of turmoil and lack of safety. Dakota Fanning is good in the lead role.
Add to that she had developed a relationship with an Ethiopian doctor who didn't escape when she did and a large part of the story here is her search for him and wondering if he survived.
Based on a novel, my wife and I enjoyed it at home on DVD from our public library. Good movie because it treats a subject that seems to be happening somewhere in the world at any given time, people forced to leave their country because of turmoil and lack of safety. Dakota Fanning is good in the lead role.
Cast was wonderful!!
tlschulte18 May 2020
Doesn't hold a candle to the book I'm afraid
tasnimaxuddin8 June 2021
I watched this movie straight after having finished the book - which was my mistake. I guess I didn't see the movie for what it was on it's own. I thought Dakota was amazing and the actress who played Amina stole my heart. Yahya Abdul Mateen was a good choice for Aziz I believe. The problem was with fast pacing, and the fact that some scenes just don't make sense unless you read the book and understand it more. Characters were not as fleshed out as was needed to truly sympathise with them and understand why they say the things they do. Of course in just under 2 hours we can't expect the film to show everything that happens in the book, but some pivotal points like how Lily and Aziz eventually got together was skimmed over in the film for me. Overall it managed to find it's way through the plot but failed to fully capture the soul within sweetness in the belly,
I don't think people understood the movie.
sunchick116-872-58338323 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
From the (few) reviews that are here, people are complaining Dakota fanning doesn't look Ethiopian. She's not supposed to. It's clearly shown in the film her parents were hippies that traveled around but were probably originally from England. She was abandoned by them in Ethiopia and raised by Ethiopians. Doesn't make her any less Ethiopian. I saw under the trivia section saoirse Roman was originally attached to This project which doesn't shock me at all. Saoirse Ronan has the career Dakota was supposed to have. Dakota can act circles around her, but somehow her movies past the age of 10 never stuck. I wonder what it would have changed to have saoirse in this project. Would it be more critically received? To me it's the script that's the problem not the actress, but there's plenty of Ronan's films I find insufferable myself, and the academy awards her for them.
I can't say I recommend this film sadly. Reading about it I realize I found it confusing. I thought they were in Ethiopia the whole time. When the hell did they go to London? They sure didn't act like they were in London.
Fanning is and has always been an amazing actress but this film just did not show that off.
I can't say I recommend this film sadly. Reading about it I realize I found it confusing. I thought they were in Ethiopia the whole time. When the hell did they go to London? They sure didn't act like they were in London.
Fanning is and has always been an amazing actress but this film just did not show that off.
Poetic irony
kindredparadox21 August 2021
Lovers separated by civil war, a woman in the UK try to find the man who may still be in Ethiopia.
It's not really suitable for a film. Even I know this even I haven't read the book. After a while, your brain will turn to irony mode, as you become aware that the story is full of it, as it is the theme.
It has becoming common plot nowadays, although the background story is a smart one.
It's not really suitable for a film. Even I know this even I haven't read the book. After a while, your brain will turn to irony mode, as you become aware that the story is full of it, as it is the theme.
It has becoming common plot nowadays, although the background story is a smart one.
Pleasantly surprised
hawwiko13 May 2020
I will admit, as an Ethiopian, I braced myself for offense when I sat down to watch this film. It is a bit unusual to see a white woman portray the Ethiopian refugee experience, but in all honesty, Dakota gives a sincere and worthy portrayal with a character that gives careful attention to her privileges. The circumstances surrounding the story and the other Ethiopian women are rich and authentic. You can see by her response to casting criticism, she does understand the heart of the story she is telling. It brought back memories for my parents as they watched so it was a worthy effort. Particularly her attempts at the Amharic language. 👌🏽
If your on the fence, I do reccomend giving it a look. I'm glad I did.
Struggles of being human.
jamalking1526 April 2021
It was revealing how Lilly is disrespected and viewed with jealousy by most of the darker skinned women. Just because she has a lighter tone skin, they assumed she was given more by Allah.
Injustice is blamed for the poverty instead of the socialist policies.
Anger that a man chose a woman with different skin colour.
Lilly did a great job trying to Ethiopian and just a person, but people got in the way with their leftist ideals.
Injustice is blamed for the poverty instead of the socialist policies.
Anger that a man chose a woman with different skin colour.
Lilly did a great job trying to Ethiopian and just a person, but people got in the way with their leftist ideals.
Totally not Ethiopian!
ghankmoody14 May 2020
I am Ethiopian & I've seen movies all my life so I do understand when movies were taking a wrong direction so sweetness in the belly is one example for that, first why did he choose a non Ethiopian actors to play the role ? Besides the directing is so boring about to much back & forth flashbacks, its not easy to follow the story & makes it hard even to finish.
A gem of a film
gazgil7 September 2020
So? A white girl played the lead. Get over it everybody. How can it be that absolute dross gets thrown at us in spades and yet this gem practically went by unnoticed? I discovered this film by accident, and so glad I did. And then I notice nine reviews. Nine! And most of them negative. A tragedy.
I'm not Ethiopian so I can't say for sure how accurate this was, but a great story about something we hear little about. My Amharic is rusty too but Dakota seemed to be doing a bang up job. Well done to her. I would read the book it was based on.
I'm not Ethiopian so I can't say for sure how accurate this was, but a great story about something we hear little about. My Amharic is rusty too but Dakota seemed to be doing a bang up job. Well done to her. I would read the book it was based on.
Full of BS!
chalamail13 July 2020
Full of BS!! No fact checking, no respect of culture and audience. I write this because I know about Ethiopia and Ethiopia was not like this and is not. One example, people doesn't kiss in public forget about back in the days, not even now. One more thing, is she suppose to be the female Tarzan. I think you crashed the airplane in the wrong Forest!! Ha..ha..ha..hahaha. There are black people who could have played the lead character!
Ethiopian journey of refuge played by a white girl
nIGHTmAYOR23 May 2020
The movie is to demonstrate the Ethiopian journey of refuge . So to gain sympathy they made the lead actor white so for the whites to start putting themselves in her shoes . Now doing so is some sort of a slap on the face of the viewers , like "You would have never watched it or felt sorry for her if she was black" . So basically that move kind of back fires as in white viewers feel offended and misjudged and black viewers feel ripped off from what should have been a black role , so bottom line this thing would neither win an award , nor the heart of critics nor the heart of the audience . so its just money wasted by producers and time wasted by viewers .
Unexpected from such director
devua1 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I watched the movie with high expectation from director zeresenay mehari from his former defret movie... The movie shows how the production attention was totally on casting famous hollywood actors not on the story narration...as an Ethiopian for me it was totally waste of time... trying to listen the language that the actors created in between speaking amharic and english..it was better if they used to cast original actor except dakota fanning.. The cinematography is good and the locations are beautiful...
Pity people dont check the background.
paulwhitequinn24 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
A few of the comments mention a European playing the lead role, and feel it's disrespectful.
The novel the movie is based on says from the outset she is white, also it gives background to some of the aspects that allow her to be seen as privileged on getting to London.
Raises serious questions
jrneptune6 November 2020
First DO read the review from Hawwiko. The review is enlightening.
I would love to know if there have been any Caucasian person that was orphaned in the Arabic world that grew up as a Muslim. I could not find any record of it but the question itself and the movie offers a great question about that.
I too loved Dakota Fanning's performance and I thought more importantly that even though she played it as a Muslim who grew up in the Muslim world and as a Caucasian she still enjoyed special privileges' not offered to others of color. It showed the inherent racism in the world.
Having it happen in Ethiopia also showed the class struggle that is taking place as the rich look to prosper off the backs of others.
Why the doctor was attracted to her in the first place I question but I will leave it at that. See the movie if you get the chance.
So far every movie project she has been on is worth seeing.
I would love to know if there have been any Caucasian person that was orphaned in the Arabic world that grew up as a Muslim. I could not find any record of it but the question itself and the movie offers a great question about that.
I too loved Dakota Fanning's performance and I thought more importantly that even though she played it as a Muslim who grew up in the Muslim world and as a Caucasian she still enjoyed special privileges' not offered to others of color. It showed the inherent racism in the world.
Having it happen in Ethiopia also showed the class struggle that is taking place as the rich look to prosper off the backs of others.
Why the doctor was attracted to her in the first place I question but I will leave it at that. See the movie if you get the chance.
So far every movie project she has been on is worth seeing.
Good Dramatic Movie
hamidious-132724 January 2022
Ok, this is a good dramatic movie. Like all dramas can be slow paced a bit.
However it has a good story, the actors are amazing. Aminah and Lili were great in particular.
I was also impressed as an Arabic speaker with Dakota Famning pronounciation and she makes it believable that her character studied Islam.
10 is pushing it but there's no way that the movie should scored so low.
However it has a good story, the actors are amazing. Aminah and Lili were great in particular.
I was also impressed as an Arabic speaker with Dakota Famning pronounciation and she makes it believable that her character studied Islam.
10 is pushing it but there's no way that the movie should scored so low.
A diamond in the rough
katford118 April 2021
I have lived in Africa and traveled through Africa as a white woman. I have not spent time in Ethiopia, though I have spent quite a bit of time in Egypt and Morocco. What I loved about this film, and the novel upon which it is based is that it points out the inherent privileges of some while also speaking to the universal experience of grief, loss, and faith. The acting was superb. The story is honest and heartfelt. I recommend giving it a try.
Sweetness of the Heart
dtporter-886-88302025 June 2022
Unique, indeed unique. Lily showed us all the mystery of alone. Lily showered us with the blessing of manifest faith, in God, in love, in people.
Fanning's portrayal had to be accurate; after all, she was the white kid from Georgia playing a white kid from Ethiopia. How she portrayed her role and survived, if not thrived, from those roots was inspirational. Her Lily's survival fierceness from deep faith in Amina, Aziz and Allah bore great witness.
As a Christian, I know that Lily and I would have different views of Jesus the Christ, but oh how I would love to sit across a table, each of us with a coffee.
I loved the introduction to Sufi, as contrasted to Shiite or Sunni manifestations of Islam. Thank you Zereseny Berhane Mehari!
I look forward to reading Gibbs' novel to know from where Lily was reading Amina's letter. Roots indeed.
Fanning's portrayal had to be accurate; after all, she was the white kid from Georgia playing a white kid from Ethiopia. How she portrayed her role and survived, if not thrived, from those roots was inspirational. Her Lily's survival fierceness from deep faith in Amina, Aziz and Allah bore great witness.
As a Christian, I know that Lily and I would have different views of Jesus the Christ, but oh how I would love to sit across a table, each of us with a coffee.
I loved the introduction to Sufi, as contrasted to Shiite or Sunni manifestations of Islam. Thank you Zereseny Berhane Mehari!
I look forward to reading Gibbs' novel to know from where Lily was reading Amina's letter. Roots indeed.
Very moving story
j-e-bradley200712 June 2022
Those that gave a low rating did so without understanding the meaning of the story. It was very thought provoking and offered situations I've not seen in movies. This had lots of depth. Dakota Fanning did a wonderful job. Very bieveable acting all the way around. I certainly recommend the movie for serious thinkers.
A film about love and friendship amidst the horrors humanity can inflict upon each other
ILuvMovieehs21 January 2023
Like others I was really surprised by this movie. Having grown up when Ethiopian refugees were fleeing this brutal military junta and their senseless famine that included countless deaths. One of the worst humanitarian crises of the 1980s, and if we look to world events today it's happening again in nearby Tigray in East Africa with war and famine. I appreciated the story telling white or not white. It spoke to the "heart" or love between friends that helps keep the human spirit going amidst loss, hardship and suffering. Watch this film and I dare you not to see the compassion and hope that fills the screen. As the film suggests, all people have a story, whether fleeing or homeless. It's a good reminder that we need to listen and be open- try to be caring to those who have lost or left everything.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
