Ali’s Wedding, film review

The film portrays images from the everyday life of an Iraqi Muslim (the majority are Shiites) community living in Melbourne, Australia. It gives insights into their concerns, customs, conflicts and cultural experiences. The film story revolves around Ali al-Basri (Osamah Sami) and the social and religious place that his family occupies within the Iraqi community. Ali is torn between following his dreams and desires, on one hand, and living up to the expectations of his family to become a doctor on the other hand. Ali resorts to lying to escape uncomfortable situations or covering up disappointments, but this strategy forces him at the end to make tough decision and to be himself. The film is reflective on multiculturalism and cross-cultural understanding through the portrayal of the social and cultural life of immigrant Muslims in Australia. It, therefore, promotes cross-cultural understanding and debunks misconceptions and prejudice against Muslim and Arabs that figure prominently in Western media.