Meskina is a Moroccan-Dutch production directed by Daria Bukvic. It stars Maryam Hassouni in the central role and Nasrdin Dchar, Soundos El Ahmadi and Jouman Fattal. The run time is approximately 1 hour 43 minutes.
– Meskina Review does not contain any spoilers –
Meskina – Hilarious Story about Adapting and Belonging
It is a good thing that the Moroccan-Dutch single thirty-something of this movie is not a forty-something or even a fifty-something. Because then she would have no family left to nag her about getting married. As it is, the poor girl is seen as a “Meskina” (a pity case) by her family, who are desperately trying to couple her off with any man she might remotely be interested in.
The plot doesn’t offer anything new, but it does provide some fresh faces and some funny scenes. Like the aunt who keeps bringing home (unwanted) men for her miserable niece to marry, and the male cousin who keeps “accidentally” dropping in, hoping for some action on the side. The heroine herself is more than a bit of a victim at times, and you can’t always decide whether she deserves all the misery coming to her. But you’ll feel for her when she’s being berated in public by her mother for having wasted another day without getting married.
The movie explores her daily life, how she tries to make ends meet, how she feels about her situation, about love and men. This movie is entirely predictable if you’ve seen other movies about women who don’t fit into the traditional role of wife. And it contains many stereotypes from the Moroccan culture as well as from Moroccan-Dutch culture. It’s elementary to see where this movie is going from the start.
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The Comedy with a Touch of Drama – Meskina Tops the Charts
What I liked about it was that it’s not your usual Hollywood chick flick: no happy ending, no resolution of problems, no real dramatic tension, just lots of jokes and smiling. It’s a well-known fact that the Dutch are among the most direct and outspoken people globally. What makes this film so refreshing is how it shows us how wacky, charming, and hilarious this can be.
Is it possible that there is a film that depicts a woman as a whole person in today’s world of the over-sexualized and objectified woman? The leading actor is good, but the story is a bit boring. It’s well-acted but nothing special.
The girls come across as strong women who also long for love in their way. They are not afraid of being honest about what they want or don’t want, which I admire.
The acting is good, and the script is tight — as are the stomach muscles of one of Laila’s would-be suitors. It all adds up to a funny and entertaining film that makes us laugh while sympathising with its characters.
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Meskina Grows on You Like a Delightful Film and an Error of Judgement
The central character is a loveable protagonist, likeable and robust in the face of adversity. She is surrounded by family members portrayed with humour and humanity, not stereotypes. We have seen the plot before, but the execution is fresh and engaging.
Meskina is a light-hearted drama that delves into the world of Moroccan immigrants living in the Netherlands. It offers an exciting perspective on their struggle to assimilate and find their place in Dutch society, which may be sympathetic at times but lacks humour.
This film does an excellent job of showing how traditional customs trap some people. They may not want to adhere to them, but at the same time, they fear being alienated by their families. As the film shows, this can be a tough spot to be in.
Meskina is one of those films that you are not sure if you like or not after watching it. The film has a great and very realistic look at the lives of immigrants in the Netherlands, who have to find their way between the traditions of their parents and the new society they live in.
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Meskina Is Both Fun and Filled With Its Fair Share of Anecdotes
The best part of the film is the rich characters and their interactions. It’s not clear whether it’s intentional or because the Dutch are translated into Arabic, but the language seems to be Moroccan slang peppered with Arabic words. This makes many of the scenes extremely funny. The dialogue is made even funnier through excellent acting.
This is not a great movie, but there are some bright spots. The lead actress is charming, and the production values are pretty good. The mother, in particular, is played well as a sympathetic character despite her flaws. However, this movie did not engage me on any level, and I found myself checking my watch more than once during its approximately two-hour running time.
Stream it or Skip it?
The word “Meskina” means “pitiful” or “pathetic” (I believe), so that should give you an idea of what this film is about. If you’re looking for something light and funny, this movie will fit the bill nicely.
Meskina is currently streaming on Netflix.