IMDb > Arranged (2007)
Photos (see all 6 | slideshow) Videos (see all 3 NEW)
Arranged (2007) -- MoviesTrailer.org - Trailer (Flash)
Arranged (2007) -- AZ Movies - Trailer (Flash)
Arranged (2007) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   801 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Stefan C. Schaefer (story)
Stefan C. Schaefer (written by)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Arranged on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 January 2009 (Brazil) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
Friendship Has No Religion
Plot:
ARRANGED centers on the friendship between an Orthodox Jewish woman and a Muslim woman who meet as first-year teachers at a public school in Brooklyn... more | add synopsis
Awards:
6 wins more
User Comments:
The best film at SXSW 2007 more (14 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Zoe Lister Jones ... Rochel Meshenberg
Francis Benhamou ... Nasira Khaldi
Mimi Lieber ... Sheli Meshenberg

John Rothman ... Matan Meshenberg

Sarah Lord ... Naomi Meshenberg
Trevor Braun ... Avi Meshenberg
Doris Belack ... Elona

Laith Nakli ... Abdul-Halim Khaldi
Jason Liebman ... Gideon

Marcia Jean Kurtz ... Principal Jacoby

Peggy Gormley ... Miriam
David Castro ... Eddie

Sanjit De Silva ... Jamil

Daniel London ... Elliot

Max Shulman ... Seth
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
USA:90 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Hebrew | Arabic
Color:
Color
Filming Locations:
New York City, New York, USA

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The film was shot in 17 days, during a heat wave where temps in New York hit 115 degrees. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the scene with both women in the car (on the way to the cemetery), the items on the back window (behind Rochel) change position from cut to cut - most notable is a newspaper. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Teacher: We're forced to handle the challenges of ESL. Different cultural traditions, everything they enter the classroom with, serious family dysfunctions. Basically our schools, New York city schools, are one big experiment, one big laboratory in this exercise we call the American Experience...
more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
15 out of 16 people found the following comment useful.
The best film at SXSW 2007, 14 March 2007
10/10
Author: mrsouth from United States

I had no idea what to expect when I walked into this film at SXSW. All I knew was that it was about a Muslim and a Jew who become friends. I figured it would be some kind of Movie of the Week type film with a sentimental "let's all get along" message, but it turned out to be a lot more complicated and interesting than that.

The main plot is that an Orthodox Jew (Zoe Lister Jones) and a Muslim (Frances Benhamou) work at a public school together, and find that their conservative lifestyles and impending arranged marriages make them have more in common with each other than anybody else at the school... even though Jews and Muslims as groups historically have some problems with each other.

It establishes the worlds of Orthodox Judaism and Islam so pitch-perfectly that the movie is fascinating just on the level of observing the lives of others. Though, to be sure, Orthodox Judaism does seem to get a bit more screen time, probably because the writer and the director both have more direct experience with Judaism than Islam. What we do see of both worlds is rife with similarities: both are marked by a reverence for history and tradition, and both are somewhat suspicious of people not members of their particular group. What the two lead women in this film hope to do is embrace the first part of their identities, while rejecting the second part.

Because this story is more concerned with character than multiple plot points, it would have failed without good performances. Luckily, the filmmakers found Lister-Jones and Benhamou to play the Jewish woman and the Muslim woman, respectively. They turn in two flawless performances, and prove themselves to be actresses to watch.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (14 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Arranged (2007)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Who played the fortuneteller? stadler-3
was it just me? craziangelbaby
good movie, terrible message. Elektrofunk
2 questions about Orthodox Judaism. Johnny____
ARRANGED on iTunes - to rent or purchase stefan-174
Right on the money hypnoguy81
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Bend It Like Beckham The Visitor American Desi The History Boys Joyeux Noël
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.