FREMONT

This modest B&W film packs quite a punch. Donya (Anaita Wali Zada) is a 20-something Afghan immigrant living in the “Little Kabul” of Fremont, California. She’s having trouble sleeping and her solitary existence finds her working at a fortune-cookie company and watching soap operas as she dines alone at a local restaurant. Director Babak Jalali infuses his tale with warmth and humor, and he’s helped by newcomer Zada, herself an Afghan immigrant, who anchors the film with her note-perfect performance. Populated by a cast of quirky, unique characters – including The Bear himself, Jeremy Allen White – Fremont is an ode to the curious beauty of building a new life in a strange land. ~SM
“Showing humor in situations that are bleak doesn’t underplay the seriousness or depth of a story but, rather, it can add layers to the sense of realism. As the saying goes: ‘He who cries only has one pain. But he who laughs has a thousand and one pains…” – director Babak Jalali.