Critic Reviews

• Lael Loewenstein, Variety

  A lovely, intricate coming-of-age portrait set in a cross-cultural context, "Maryam" reps a promising debut from Ramin Serry.

• Desson Thomson, Washington Post

  High on melodrama. But it's emotionally engrossing, too, thanks to strong, credible performances from the whole cast.

• , Chicago Tribune

  A searing reminder of the relevance of recent history and of the timeless power of fiction to humanize people and crystallize sweeping events into personal drama.

• Jonathan Curiel, San Francisco Chronicle

  It is enthralling and evocative, despite some flaws.

• Loren King, Chicago Tribune

  Uncannily in tune with contemporary global events.

• Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

  Maryam is more timely now than ever.

• Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks

  Smarter in its message than its execution, this is still a thought-provoking rental.

• James Plath, Movie Metropolis

  Serry manages to tell an engrossing and subtly complex coming-of-age story that involves not just a high school girl, but her whole family.

• Rich Cline, Film Threat

  First-time writer-director Serry shows a remarkable gift for storytelling with this moving, effective little film.

• David Elliott, San Diego Union-Tribune

  It's a very sincere work, but it would be better as a diary or documentary.

• Ernest Hardy, L.A. Weekly

  A quietly moving look back at what it was to be Iranian-American in 1979.

• Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

  It takes this never-ending confusion and hatred, puts a human face on it, evokes shame among all who are party to it and even promotes understanding.

• Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

  captures that perverse element of the Kafkaesque where identity, overnight, is robbed and replaced with a persecuted "other."

• Richard von Busack, MetroActive

  It's good; indeed, it's important.

Read all 14 critic reviews