Review of Picture Bride (1995) by Kameela I — 15 Jul 2008

This is another reason why I love them Sundance films, because they focus on real stories, stories that educate us and give us a deeper insight of what was or how it was for everyone back in the days.

The tittle of this movie is so right and it might give an idea of what it is about, aye. Well, is exactly that, is about how back then, when people were still traditional and the parents had the freedom to choose whom their kids were going to marry. Imagine all that just by exchanging pictures and involving some lies that would get you out of your country just because there was no future there for you because everyone knew your past. ( Riyos character).

The whole story is so captivating, the girl is 16, she finds her husband by that photograph , hes in Hawaii, but she does not know is that the picture shes been sent its of a younger version of him. So she embarks to Hawaii with that only picture as a hope and very happy because the husband is young. Once she gets there she finds out the husband-to-be is much older than the picture and that is when her struggles begin. She tries to save money to go back to her homeland (japan) not knowing that shes confined to work on the sugar cane fields for a long time before she gets to that goal, as she is trying to save up her money her respect for the husband grows as she sees that he, too, is miserable and his vision of returning to the mainland are nil. With this in heart she tries to run away getting as far as the land will allow her too, after spending some time there she finally repents and realized that is not going to do any good (you will see why if you do see the movie) . As the movie is ending, Riyo decides to stay and embrace her japanese culture in Hawaiian land and she sees that is not necessary to be in the homeland to feel home.

Is a very good movie, I totally reccomend it, obviously, other wise I wouldnt have taken time away from my time to write this review. *Laughs*.