Ali's Wedding
Engaging Australian romcom has some language.
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Ali's Wedding
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Ali's Wedding is a warmhearted romcom about a young man whose life is changed forever when he tells a lie. Based on a true story, the tale is set in modern Australia among a Shia Muslim community whose members have immigrated from Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon. It presents a funny and very positive look at a conservative religious culture adapting to new surroundings and norms while trying to hold on to its most valued traditions. It's a love story, for sure, but almost as much a love story about parents and their children as it is about the two people who fall in love. Two brief flashback sequences include violence: A young boy steps on a landmine, and a man is shot by soldiers. Occasional swearing and insults include "f--k," "s--t," "goddamn," and "idiot." An ethnic slur, "godless Arab donkey," is used (in Farsi). Expect some kissing, sexual banter like "knock her up," boys ogling girls, etc.
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What's the Story?
ALI'S WEDDING is set in a close-knit Iraqi Muslim community in Melbourne, Australia, made up of transplanted families who have escaped persecution from their home countries. Their leader, both spiritual and cultural, is Mahdi (Don Hany), a wise and courageous Iraqi man. His son, Ali (Osamah Sami, also the film's co-writer and associate producer), is caught between the traditions of his family and the modern liberalism of the West. It's a critical moment in Ali's life. He's about to take his medical school entrance exams, and he's aware that his family is ready to choose a bride for him. When, in a moment of great fear of embarrassment for both him and his family, Ali tells a significant lie, he's catapulted into a world of escalating deception, along with the dread of exposure. Only his budding but "forbidden" relationship with Dianne (Helana Sawires), a young Lebanese medical student, gives him solace. Unfortunately for Ali, the arranged marriage can't be stopped. And, at the same time, a jealous rival of his father's senses the truth, and is determined to unmask him. This critical time in Ali's life appears to have become unmanageable. Or has it?
Is It Any Good?
The combination of endearing lead characters, an imaginative plot, and a good-natured look at a flourishing Muslim community in modern Australia makes for a comedy rich in texture and warmth. Hard to believe, but this story really happened in the life of lead actor and co-writer Osamah Sami, though surely the filmmakers have taken some dramatic license with the truth. How wonderful that Sami was able to enlist the talented, first-time feature director Jeffrey Walker to bring his "journey" to film. Walker's second feature (released earlier), Dance Academy, confirms his ability to brighten his subject matter and find that sweet spot that endears his characters to audiences.
Performances are all first-rate in Ali's Wedding. Special kudos to the two young leads, Sami and Helana Sawires, and Don Hany, who makes his Muslim cleric both wise and funny. The production is rich with flavor -- settings, costumes, music. Everything just works. Recommended for teens, especially romantic comedy fans.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how movies, even comedies, can serve to educate and change attitudes for audiences. What did you learn about the Muslim religion and Iraqi culture from watching Ali's Wedding? Did Ali's family and community alter your perspective of that society? In what ways?
Do you think that Ali learns integrity and perseverance over the course of the movie? If so, how? Why are those important character strengths?
How accurate do you think the film is to what happened in Ali's real life? Why might filmmakers alter the facts in a movie based on a true story, or even movies based on books and other fiction?
If you were forced to leave your home and move to a different country, what traditions would you want to keep and continue?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: June 8, 2018
- Cast: Osamah Sami, Helena Sawires, Don Hany
- Director: Jeffrey Walker
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship
- Character Strengths: Communication, Perseverance
- Run time: 110 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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