FemmeFilmFest20 Review: Welcome Home (Armita Keyani)

Welcome Home is a funny, awkward, and simple look at different cultures and religions along with the combination of the two and the projection of the two on to each other. The story is simple: a young, adorable couple has moved from Iran to Norway and they desire to learn the native language to become more familiarized with their new home.

The film opens with an explanation that the couple is struggling to find this in their community, after their neighbor slammed her door in their face when they asked her to come over, hang out, and speak Norweigan with them. She was confused – immediately jumped to the conclusion that they were seeking money instead of friendship and experience. The couple writes it off and makes an excuse for the neighbor lady, she is just crazy and old. They go back to snuggling. Clearly happy and in love, the two begin to start their day. 

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Then the couple gets a knock on their door. Outside is an odd couple to say the least – an older man and a young woman. They claim they noticed a new name on the door, and wanted to meet them. The couple explains they have come from Iran, and shortly after the odd visitors are invited inside.

Clearly, the Iranian couple is using them as a ploy to learn the language, but the odd couple has an entirely different agenda. Immediately the odd couple begins projecting the idea of “finding comfort”, and after a couple failed attempts to make a connection, (you are from Iraq? Oh, Iran! I love your rugs!) the awkwardness and funny moments just take off from there. The Iranian couple has befriended two Jehovah’s Witnesses and welcomed them into their home.

The young Iranian woman finally vents to her lover that this is no longer a joke and she cannot take it anymore – they must stop having the odd Jehovah couple over. He promises he will take care of it. That night, at dinner, the funniest scene takes place.

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The Iranian couple causes a scene, which made me chuckle out loud a few times, and is worth a rewatch in itself. This clearly establishes the differences between the couples and signals the end of their friendship, if we should even label it with that. 

What works here is the cleverness and quirkiness. But there is a little something missing throughout – maybe music could help the narrative a bit, because most of the scenes are silent and only feature the dialogue between the characters. The acting is well done and the shots and editing are straightforward. I think this is a perfect short film that gets its point and message across clearly without shoving it in the audience’s face.