Maryam (2002)

Set in 1979, a story which centers on Maryam, an Iranian-born 16-year-old high school student who has lived most of her life in New Jersey. She has become thoroughly Americanized, preferring to be called Mary rather than her Iranian name Maryam. Her immigrant family enjoys a pleasant and fully assimilated life in their adopted country, but their serenity is disrupted when her headstrong, fundamentalist cousin Ali arrives from Iran to attend graduate school at an American university. Global politics, family conflicts, Old World vs. New World values, gender differences and xenophobia are among the conflicts that arise when the vehemently anti-Shah Ali arrives in the suburbs. The tensions felt Maryam's house are mirrored when the American hostages are taken in Teheran and members of the community broadbrush all Iranians as enemies. While clearly not involved with the actions in Teheran, Maryam and her family face acute prejudice and hatred from a community which had long welcomed them.