Maryam (2002)

Director:

Ramin Serry

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Cultures clash. Hearts break. People change.

Plot:

An Iranian-born teenager living in suburban New Jersey thinks of herself as simply an American until anti-Iranian sentiment erupts in her community after American hostages are held in Iran. |

Plot Keywords:

Iran | Reference To The Shah Of Iran | Hijab | Doctor | Iranian Government

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Mariam Parris	...	Mary Armin
David Ackert	...	Ali Armin
Shaun Toub	...	Dr. Darius Armin
Shohreh Aghdashloo	...	Homa Armin
Maz Jobrani	...	Reza
Victor Jory	...	Jamie
Sabine Singh	...	Jill
Michael Blieden	...	Pete
Jason Nash	...	Joel
Goli Samii	...	Leila
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Armin Amiri	...	Ali
Gillian Thomas	...	High school girl
Al Nazemian	...	Protester (uncredited)

Directed by
Ramin Serry

Produced by
Shauna Lyon	....	producer
Jonathan Shoemaker	....	co-producer
Derrick Tseng	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Ahrin Mishan

Film Editing by
Gary Levy

Production Design by
Petra Barchi

Art Direction by
Michelle Lang

Costume Design by
Nancy Brous

Production Management
Sophia Lin	....	production manager

Sound Department
Kevin Bowe	....	boom operator
Tammy Douglas	....	additional boom operator
Andrew Kris	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Mary Ellen Porto	....	supervising sound editor
Griffin Richardson	....	boom operator

Camera and Electrical Department
Vincent Dow	....	gaffer
Robert McKenna	....	best boy grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sarah J. Holden	....	associate costume designer

Editorial Department
Seth Anderson	....	assistant editor
Barry Malawski	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Doug Bernheim	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Adrian Correia	....	production assistant
Albert Krause	....	production accountant
Dan Milner	....	location manager
Brian Reingold	....	location scout
Sara Tune	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Centre Street Productions
• Streetlight Films

Distributors

• Streetlight Films (2002) (USA)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Centre Street Productions

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the scene where Mary's father (Darius) turns around and leaves, after he is prevented from entering the store after the store owner posts the "Closed" sign and hides in the back, a 1990 Volvo 740GL rolls slowly by in the street in front of him. The film's setting is 1979.

See it and think about American culture

Several of the negative comments about this film were so blind. This movie is about American culture and makes you think about big questions that nag us -- why do Americans respond to a crisis by hating others? I was alive and conscious during the events of 1979, I have known Iranians as college acquaintances and friends, and the use of footage in the movie is very effective at evoking memories of that time. Thinking about the racism against Iranians during that time and then thinking about how too many Americans reacted to the events of September 11, the march to a stupid war in Iraq, etc., etc., makes it clear once again that we Americans need to do some deep soul searching. Watch this movie and think about it -- don't try to act like some film critic or reviewer. Interestingly, on the surface this movie is about Iranians, but in fact I found that it was about American culture.