Lamma hikyit Maryam

Lamma Hikyit Mariam is an excellent movie that speaks to people across time, language, and culture. Lebanon has seen few movies since the end of the war, and those that have come out usually are about the war. This one isn't.

Lamma Hikyit Mariam is about love, family pressure and expectations, and hope. And yes, it is very critical. Note a veiled, and therefore Muslim, Mariam ('Mary' in Arabic) who, contrary to the traditional Christian Mary who had a child but no husband, has a husband but cannot conceive a child. Bernadette Hodeib is absolutely amazing in this role. The rest of the actors could have done a better job -they get too theatrical and not natural enough at times, but they don't spoil the movie.

For Arabs, especially the more conservative, this is a challenging movie that may be hard to digest at first, but I think it gets its message across very well. For those not familiar with Arab culture, this is a touching window into the Arab culture. Despite its religious offset, this movie destroys all the stereotypes one may have. It shows the complexity of the culture and the way different people deal with it.

The music is very well chosen. The wedding scene when Mariam dances to Ilham el Madfai's "sharabtak el mai" ("I offered you water to drink") is heartbreaking, and it is only at the end that we understand why water is such a strong image that repeatedly reoccurs.

Hopefully this excellent low-budget movie will encourage more young (and older) Lebanese directors to step forward and dare do their thing and express themselves. It speaks so well to all who watch it, and absolutely everyone learns something by watching it. Let's also hope it makes it into the West.