C+


The topic is very difficult to handle and very touchy, so I admire the ambition of the filmmakers. However, they weren't entirely successful. I found the movie pretty compelling at times, especially in the first half. I just had this feeling of sorrow and dread during almost the entire film...feeling pity for the characters and about the way they were being manipulted.

However, there was just not enough motivation presented for Khaled's and Said's actions. Their characters were shallow and that hurt the movie in the second half. At first, it seemed that Said was the one doubting the whole thing...but then, all of sudden he changes, while Khaled changes his mind after some sloppy short argument in the car with the girl. That just didn't come across as very believable.

I liked that they had the whole movie go on without music, even when the credits rolled. Gave the film a more harrowing sense. The ending was very predictable (in that it would end with a bright white light, I saw it coming long time before it ended, hehe). It is appropriate, though.

It is a decent effort, but as I said, the characters didn't have enough depth and weren't explored well enough. The changes were not believable and thus stole the credibility from the ending. The girl talking to Khaled in the car is one of the most interesting characters, yet she is sloppily written and not given enough screentime.