You Resemble Me is a captivating film that delves into the compelling narrative of Hasna, a Moroccan immigrant who becomes entangled in the dangerous web of Jihadist extremists. Written and directed by the talented Dina Amer, this cinematic gem offers an unfiltered and emotionally charged portrayal of the struggles and adversities faced by Muslim immigrants in a world plagued by discrimination and hardship. Drawing upon a stellar cast, including the remarkable talents of Lorenza Garimaudo, Ilonna Grimaudo, Sabrina Ouazani, Mouna Soualem, Alexandre Gonin, Zinedine Soualem, and many more, the film immerses viewers in a raw and visceral account.
Spoilers Ahead
The Sisters: Hasna And Mariyam
From their tender years, Hasna and Mariyam’s bond was unbreakable, their souls intertwined with an unbreakable thread of sisterhood. Hasna, who was the elder sibling, assumed the role of a mother to Mariyam, as their own mother was either absent or sleeping her days away. With tenderness and compassion, Hasna would prepare her sister’s breakfast, bathe her, and braid her hair, ensuring that she never felt alone in the world. Their journey was fraught with difficulties, as being of Moroccan origin and residing in Paris exposed them to the harsh realities of discrimination, with their race, language, and religion often used as a basis for exclusion. To compound their already challenging circumstances, the sisters found themselves in a heartbreaking situation where their own mother would sell their belongings, including essential school supplies, just to make ends meet. What tore at their hearts even more, was the realization that their mother, lost in the throes of desperation, had forgotten the significance of their birthdays and was solely driven by the pursuit of money, even willing to sell the clothes off her own children’s backs. The final straw came when she crossed a line that could not be ignored, prompting the sisters to make a daring escape, boarding a train that would carry them far away from their troubled past. With empty stomachs and meager resources, the sisters had no recourse but to hang to the empathy of strangers, hoping for a flicker of compassion. However, the harsh reality was that their pleas for help often went unheard, leaving Hasna and Mariyam to navigate their challenging circumstances alone.
The Separation
In a cruel twist of fate, the girls found themselves in the clutches of law enforcement and were placed under the care of child protective services. However, the very system meant to protect them made a heart-wrenching decision to separate the sisters, tearing them away from the only family they had left. It was a bitter irony that a system designed to safeguard children would unwittingly contribute to the pain of a little girl, separating her from her beloved elder sister. Hasna’s new home became a realm of strict control, as she was placed with a French family whose adherence to rules extended even to the positioning of elbows on the dinner table. Their lack of sensitivity towards her Muslim background was evident when they callously forced her to consume pork, disregarding her dietary restrictions. In a deeply distressing turn of events, Hasna found herself lost one day, vulnerable and at the mercy of a stranger who offered assistance but took advantage of her innocence. Seeking answers, Hasna mustered the courage to return to her old home, hoping to salvage any shred of information about her missing sister. Yet, instead of finding compassion or support, she was met with mockery and belittlement from her own mother, who callously assigned blame to her for the family’s troubles.
As the years went by, Hasna transformed into a young woman whose circumstances left her with no choice but to engage in drug trafficking in order to survive. Unfortunately, the harsh reality of her new life was unkind, as she found herself at the mercy of degenerates who took advantage of already-struggling circumstances, demanding favors in exchange for their fleeting assistance. The cruel misconception that she was someone who sold her body for profit became a pervasive label, subjecting her to the demeaning ownership and objectification of others. However, despite the hardships and societal judgments she faced, Hasna remained steadfast in finding her long-lost sister, Mariyam. Through a television broadcast, Hasna discovered that her cousin, Abdelhamid Abbaou, was involved in an organization that sought to empower Muslims, urging them to take up arms in defense of their rights. According to him, the greatest apprehension in the Western world lay in the presence of Islam, a faith that had been consistently marginalized and exploited, breeding division rather than understanding.
‘You Resemble Me’ Ending
Hasna’s already fragile financial situation continued to erode, and the stress it took on her mental well-being was profound. The daily discrimination she faced due to her Arab heritage only added to her struggles, creating a constant battle for acceptance and dignity. Each day felt like a disheartening repetition, as everything she held dear had been unjustly snatched away from her grasp. The absence of her beloved sister, whom she had fiercely protected and loved more than life itself, weighed heavily on her soul, leaving a void that seemed impossible to fill. Even her attempts to find purpose through joining the armed forces were met with rejection and dismissal. It was during this vulnerable period that Hamid, her cousin, recognized an opportunity to exploit her vulnerability. Manipulating her emotions and aspirations, he slowly but steadily ingrained his cause within her consciousness, convincing her that a return to Syria was the path to meaning and belonging. Trapped in Hamid’s web of manipulation, Hasna found herself entangled in a distorted reality where dreams of marriage and a family were twisted into tools for exploitation. Her innocent hopes were shattered as Hamid’s true intentions emerged. It became painfully clear that he saw her as nothing more than a pawn, a means to further his own agenda. Doubts began to infiltrate Hasna’s mind as Hamid’s demands became increasingly extreme. When he asked her to detonate an explosive device in a bustling street, Hasna’s conscience rebelled against such senseless violence. She bravely refused, standing up against the darkness that had consumed her cousin. But her resistance was met with unimaginable cruelty and abuse, leaving her trapped between the forces of manipulation and her own moral compass. Tragically, in the harrowing events that unfolded in the Saint-Denis building in 2015, Hasna lost her life, becoming another victim of the destructive ideology that had ensnared her. As the details of the tragic incident unfolded, several new details emerged. Contrary to earlier beliefs, it was revealed through a painstaking investigation that she did not bear the burden of detonating the explosive vest, it was her male colleague who knowingly detonated the explosive, resulting in the devastating explosion that claimed their lives.