Laleh

"Laleh".is based on a true story about a woman (played by. Sara Amiri) who attempts to make it in the world of car racing in Iran. It's not the first film to explore a woman trying to make it in a male dominant field, but despite its setting in an ultraconservative Islamic country, the film lacks originality and freshness. It's like the writer/director Essy Niknejad has never seen "Heart Like a Wheel" or any film dealing with race car driving. The dialog is obvious and the situations feel forced. While Amiri's performance as the title character is adequate, many of the supporting actor performances are stilted and amateurish. A highlight of the film are the racing sequences, which provide needed tension and excitement. The family friendly treatment of "Laleh" plays like an ABC Afterschool Special with an obvious message about never giving up on your dreams.