Jasmine Road Parent Guide

Jasmine Road opens in the fictitious Canadian town of Red River, settled in the foothills of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. Rancher Mac Bagley (Greg Ellwand) has a fulfilling life, caring for his horses, sharing a rich companionship with his wife (Toni Ellwand), and hanging out with the guys at the local coffee shop as they complain about politics and the government’s refugee policy. Then Mac’s wife dies, and his grief leaves him completely unmoored.

Half a world away, Syrian refugee Layla (Aixa Kay) is waiting anxiously in a UN camp for word of her missing husband. When she’s told that her remaining family – 12 year old daughter, Heba (Melody Mokhtari), and brother, Salem (Ahmed Muslimani) – have been accepted for admission to Canada, she’s reluctant to leave without her husband. But knowing that this is too good a chance to pass up, the entire family leaves for Canada, arriving in the city of Calgary, where the Western prairies meet the Canadian Rockies. It’s about as far from the bombed out remnants of Aleppo as you can imagine.

As the family settles into a temporary resettlement center, Heba goes to school and connects with her teacher, Loretta (Caitlyn Sponheimer), who happens to be Mac’s daughter, and who empathizes with the Syrians’ plight, Worried about her father’s apathy and isolation, she invites Heba’s family to the ranch for a visit and then offers a home on their land. Having a house and making a home are two different things and it’s going to take some time for these three to settle in, especially when not all of their neighbors are welcoming…

Despite its good intentions, Jasmine Road suffers from a few flaws. It’s too long and could have used tighter editing. The magical realism elements are touch and go and might or might not appeal to you. The biggest problem with the movie is that the plot’s developments sometimes feel forced, not organic, as the screenwriter tries to push his characters to follow a predetermined arc, whether or not it feels true to life.

Luckily, the movie has more than enough positive elements to compensate for its weaknesses. Content issues are within the PG-13 range with moderate swearing, off-screen violence, and non-explicit sexual content. The characters are relatable and the acting is beautifully understated. Greg Ellwand is suitably restrained as the laconic Mac and Ahmed Muslimani takes the prize for his portrayal as Salem – being a gay Muslim man is dangerous almost anywhere, but particularly so in a highly conservative rural area. His weariness, resignation, and grief are completely believable. Best of all, the scenery is jaw-droppingly beautiful and the stunning vistas alone are worth your time.

The highlight of Jasmine Road is its overarching message of tolerance, acceptance, and shared human experience. The film makes it clear that despite our cultural differences, we are all human and share the experience of loss and pain. We find joy and meaning in our families and we also find satisfaction in mastering skills and sharing our work with others. I’ve lived in both Southern Alberta and the Middle East and can attest to the vast differences between the cultures. What this lovely little movie shows is that people of good will can bridge that gap with kindness, empathy, openness, and a little bit of effort. This message makes the movie eminently suitable for teens and adults who want to be inspired or uplifted by simple goodness.