Sting of Chance

Running time: N/A

Every generation of immigrants to America arrives with two burdens: becoming American and honoring their own culture. These two concepts don't easily mesh, and their resolution makes up the daily drama of their lives. In the first Iranian-American independent feature film, director Babak Sarrafan shows the conflict within a young Iranian immigrant who wants to pursue a screenwriting career against the wishes of his traditional family and his own doubts about the rightness of his decision and the risks of a creative career. Authenticity is built into the dialogue by the use of Farsi as well as English throughout the film. Although a specifically Iranian-American experience is depicted in the film, the issues of assimilation and cultural estrangement speak to the larger concerns of all newcomers. The film itself is a contribution to our culture and the understanding and acceptance that accompanies artistic effort. --Ed Soohoo