Preview: ‘Ariana’
By Bruce Fessier
The Desert Sun
September
4th, 2004
Running time: 27 minutes
Program: Gay
Shorts: Pride and Prejudice
Screening: 8
p.m.
Origin: U.S.
Director: Michael
Sandoval
Cast: Anahid, Shashi Balooja, Tate
Ellington
Synopsis: Abbas Imad (Balooja) has
overcome a broken home and all the prejudices a gay man of
dark, Arab descent could encounter to achieve his dream of
becoming an internist. He believes this proves that if you
focus your mind on one thing, you can achieve anything. But
his theory is challenged when the Armenian grandmother who
raised him becomes senile and difficult for he and his lover
to handle in the home they all share.
Scorecard:
(on a 1-10 basis) 8. Sandoval, who has taught
directing at the New York Film Academy, packs a lot of pride
and prejudice in 27 minutes, but it is a credit to his skills
that the film doesn’t feel weighed down by all the baggage.
This is a sensitive film that will strike a chord with many
different demographics. Anahid, as the grandmother Ariana, is
especially believable and moving.
Bruce Fessier is the people/entertainment
editor for The Desert Sun. He can be reached at (760) 778-4622
or via
.
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