When an unplanned pregnancy leaves her with nowhere else to turn, Maria is seemingly forced to rely on her mother who dealt with similar circumstances.
This movie asks questions of a women's role in religion, community, and motherhood. Set against a strict Islamic ruleset, women are shunned for both giving birth out of wedlock and for aborting a pregnancy. I felt a genuine distance and subsequent connection between these two women as their troubles began to align, and Maria was able to see her mother as not a "loose woman" that she and her village previously viewed her as, but as simply a woman who has also struggled.
Very strong performances by both mother and daughter, probably the strongest aspect of the film. Where this starts to drag is the moment-to-moment scenes, where the delicate subtlety of the performances couldn't quite make up for some of the lackluster dialogue and pacing.
When an unplanned pregnancy leaves her with nowhere else to turn, Maria is seemingly forced to rely on her mother who dealt with similar circumstances.
This movie asks questions of a women's role in religion, community, and motherhood. Set against a strict Islamic ruleset, women are shunned for both giving birth out of wedlock and for aborting a pregnancy. I felt a genuine distance and subsequent connection between these two women as their troubles began to align, and Maria was able to see her mother as not a "loose woman" that she and her village previously viewed her as, but as simply a woman who has also struggled.
Very strong performances by both mother and daughter, probably the strongest aspect of the film. Where this starts to drag is the moment-to-moment scenes, where the delicate subtlety of the performances couldn't quite make up for some of the lackluster dialogue and pacing.
