You Resemble Me

Directed by Dina Amer, You Resemble Me follows a Muslim woman living in Paris as she attempts to cope with the trauma of her adolescence. It’s compelling subject matter that’s employed to erratic yet ultimately rewarding effect by Amer, and it’s clear, certainly, that the movie does improve considerably once it progresses beyond its meandering, far-from-enthralling opening half hour – with the arms-length atmosphere perpetuated by an ongoing emphasis on the less-than-captivating exploits of two little girls (ie it just feels so underwhelming and aimless). And although Amer does a superb job of capturing the gritty, impoverished landscape in which the characters reside, You Resemble Me doesn’t begin to adopt an engaging, entertaining feel until it progresses into a second half focused on the downbeat exploits of the central character’s adult counterpart – with the effectiveness of this stretch heightened by Mouna Soualem’s stirring and often heartbreaking performance as the thoroughly sympathetic figure. (Amer’s oddball decision to sporadically place other actresses in the role doesn’t really work, ultimately.) By the time the riveting and unexpectedly devastating third act rolls around, You Resemble Me has cemented its place as a hit-and-miss debut that is, in the final analysis, far more impactful than one might’ve initially anticipated.

*** out of ****