Wednesday 12 June
10am, 2:30pm, 5pm, 7:30pm
Director Babak Jalali
USA
English Afghani (English subtitles)
91 minutes
Troubled 20-something Donya, an Afghan translator who used to work with the US government, has trouble sleeping. She lives by herself in Fremont in a building with other Afghan immigrants, often dining alone at a local restaurant watching soap operas.
Her routine changes when she’s promoted to writing the fortunes at her job at a fortune cookie factory in the city. As her fortunes are read by strangers throughout the Bay, Donya’s smouldering longing drives her to send a message out to the world, unsure where it will lead.
Fremont takes a thoughtful and wryly funny look at the immigrant experience.
Babak Jalali’s assured black-and-white indie drama strikes a beautiful tone with a deadpan sense of humour, aided by Anaita Wali Zada’s quietly poignant performance. – Variety
It’s the kind of independent film which we haven’t seen alot of lately, endowed with intimacy and a kind of dreamy charm. – The Guardian
