

Fremont

Donya, a lonely Afghan refugee and former translator, spends her twenties drifting through a meager existence in Fremont, California. Shuttling between her job writing fortunes for a fortune cookie factory and sessions with her eccentric therapist, Donya suffers from insomnia and survivor's guilt over those still left behind in Kabul as she desperately searches for love.
A pleasant, bittersweet drama tracing the misadventures of an Afghan girl who arrived in the US somewhat by chance. The style and narrative are simple but direct. The choice of pronounced black and white and the soundtrack are very welcome and apt. Babak Jalali proves once again that he is a fine independent filmmaker with a film that is low-budget but has an excellent impact.