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May Brennan has it all - intelligence, looks, rave reviews for her recently published book and a loving fiancé. But immediately upon returning to her hometown of Amman, Jordan for the wedding, the cracks in her seemingly perfect life begin to show.
Confronted with the wounds of her parents' long-broken relationship, coupled with the unavoidable clash of old-world and modern values, May is led to question the direction her life is taking. Her once carefully structured world appears to unravel as she grapples with her own truths in this fresh look at a woman caught in the crossroads between tradition and choice.
Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize in the Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival. Nominated for Best Film in the Venice Days Competition at the Venice Film Festival.
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Corner Store is the true story of Yousef Elhaj; beloved shop owner, Palestinian immigrant and long-distance father. Ten years ago, Yousef left his wife and three small children in Palestine to start a new life for them all in San Francisco. For the past decade he has worked day and night to build a small business, save money, and become part of his adopted community while still trying to stay connected from afar. The film profiles Yousef's life in San Francisco and the challenges of the immigration process for his family. It then follows his journey back to his fractured homeland to finally reunite with his wife and kids. But a lot has changed, and Yousef must confront the current realities in both his family and his country and decide if a new life in America is really still the right path for them to take.
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The Palestinian American musician Simon Shaheen's mastery of the Arabic oud and violin has brought him international acclaim.
This film, the first in Documentary Arts' Connecting Cultures series, follows Shaheen in his daily life in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn where he lives, and documents his performances at Symphony Space in New York City and the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Shaheen demonstrates his melodic ingenuity and his command of genres ranging from traditional Arabic music to jazz and Western classical styles.
