If You See Something is a fascinating, powerful, and poignant exploration of identity, belonging, and the moral complexities of immigration – navigating the fraught negotiation between acceptance and rejection.
If You See Something centers on Ali (Adam Bakri), an Iraqi doctor seeking asylum in the United States, carrying the heavy burden of trauma and loss. Romantically involved with Katie (Jess Jacobs), a woman who stands by him unwaveringly, deeply aware of and empathetic toward the weight of his past, Ali is forced to confront a heartbreaking dilemma when unsettling news from Baghdad threatens to unravel the life he has built in New York.
Written by the late Avram Ludwig and co-star Jacobs, the film eschews victim narratives that so often flatten the complexities of the immigrant experience. Instead, it turns its focus on the resilience of its protagonist, Ali, a man who embodies the notion that true character is forged not in comfort, but in sacrifice. Ali is a man of action, never one to seek accolades for his selflessness, but always willing to help others – even when it means risking the life he has painstakingly built. Bakri’s portrayal of Ali is a powerful exploration of inner conflict, capturing the strength of a man who chooses responsibility over comfort, and integrity over self-preservation, benefiting so much from a script that never succumbs to clichés.
Jacobs plays Katie with an emotional complexity that mirrors the film’s exploration of identity. Her relationship with Ali is tested not just by their differing cultural backgrounds, but also by the disapproval of her father, Ward (Reed Birney), who questions Ali’s place in their lives. This familial conflict adds an emotional dimension to the narrative, contrasting with the more immediate stakes of Ali’s moral choices and his personal commitment to help his friend in danger.
Under Oday Rasheed’s direction, If You See Something remains focused on the emotional depth of its characters, opting for a more understated exploration of its protagonist’s inner turmoil. Cinematographer Danny Vecchione captures this with a style that feels both naturalistic and immersive, using the camera to create a palpable sense of intimacy with the characters. As a result, the film pulls you into Ali’s world, where even the most mundane moments are infused with a tension that speaks to the weight of moral choices and the impact of lived experience.
Ultimately, If You See Something works on a number of levels, grappling not just with the specifics of immigration, but with universal questions of moral responsibility and personal agency. What sets it apart is its refusal to reduce its protagonist to a mere victim, opting instead to portray a complex individual navigating moral dilemmas that are far from straightforward. The film serves as a fascinating meditation on belonging, identity, and the ties that bind across distance, difference, and circumstance – a nuanced reflection on what it means to claim a place in a world that is at once welcoming and alienating.
VERDICT:
If You See Something opens in New York theaters on October 31, before expanding nationwide on November 14.
To learn more about the asylum process and immigration in the U.S. you can read the work from the National Immigration Forum, Migration Policy Institute, and the American Immigration Council.
