Maryam

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Maryam

Released Apr 14, 2000

1h 30m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

37 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

It's 1979 and Mary (Mariam Parris), an Iranian-American teenager, pursues fun and romance in the New Jersey suburbs. Mary's world is radically transformed, though, when Ali (David Ackert), her fundamentalist Muslim cousin, comes to live with her family at the same time that Americans are taken hostage in Iran. American backlash against Iranians and Ali's disclosure of the family's dark history force Mary to come to terms with her own unique, culturally divided identity.

Critics Consensus

A well-made coming of age drama elevated by its evocative setting, Maryam marks writer-director Ramin Serry as an emerging talent to watch.

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Lael Loewenstein

Variety

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

Mar 27, 2009

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Desson Thomson

Washington Post

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

Jul 26, 2002

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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.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 20, 2002

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Film Threat

Rated: 4.5/5

Dec 6, 2005

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Nick Davis

Nick's Flick Picks

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

Rated: 3/5

Sep 16, 2005

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 12, 2005

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Audience Member

Penetrating drama about an Iranian-American girl in the late 70's that raises questions and invites contemplation with the movie's release just months after 9/11. Great overlooked drama.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Audience Member

A movie revealing the public hatred and bigotry during the time of the Iran kidnapping of Americans in 1979. Maryam is a young school girl who was born (with her parents) in Iran. Her father came to America to earn better money in his medical job. An orphaned cousin arrives from Iran who will stay with them and attend a local university. The clash of cultures causes problems between him and Maryam's family. He's more Iranian than American...she's more American than Iranian. Maryam's car is vandalized ("camel jockeys go home"). Neighbors turn against neighbors. America becomes a fearful place for Iranian immigrants (and anyone who fits the "profile"). A timely movie that fits today's social problems and holds a mirror up to America to show her the ugly side of bigotry, fear and hatred of those who are "different".

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

Carefully crafted, notably in its deft dramatic structuring, and has become timely in a way its maker could never have anticipated.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

(*** 1/2): [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Ramin Serry

Director

Mariam Parris

Maryam 'Mary' Armin

David Ackert

Ali Armin

Shaun Toub

Dr. Darius Armin

Shohreh Aghdashloo

Mrs. Homa Armin

Maz Jobrani

Maz Jobrani

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Synopsis

It's 1979 and Mary (Mariam Parris), an Iranian-American teenager, pursues fun and romance in the New Jersey suburbs. Mary's world is radically transformed, though, when Ali (David Ackert), her fundamentalist Muslim cousin, comes to live with her family at the same time that Americans are taken hostage in Iran. American backlash against Iranians and Ali's disclosure of the family's dark history force Mary to come to terms with her own unique, culturally divided identity.

Director: Ramin Serry
Producer: Shauna Lyon
Distributor: Trimark Pictures, Streetlight Films
Production Co: Streetlight Films, Centre Street Productions
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 14, 2000, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 13, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $104.2K
Runtime: 1h 30m