Parvaneh

"Parvaneh" is the film I think is most likely to take home the Oscar. It's a very good film and the subject matter seems like the sort of thing that is pure Oscar-bait. It is the story about a young Afghani refugee living in Switzerland. She is alone and like so many refugees is concerned about sending home money to her poor family. However, when she arrives in the city and tries to wire money, she finds two problems--she must be over 18 and she has no identification. So, she goes in search of someone to help her. Now I assumed as I watched that she would soon be exploited by some uncaring person and I assumed several things would happen which didn't. I appreciate how the film is not predictable much of the time. The story is about the connection this Muslim lady makes with a Swiss woman who has her own set of problems. I liked the film but didn't love it--which is the way I felt about all of the nominees this year.