Layla's SahraAs Layla prepares for her traditional wedding-eve party, or "sahra," she gets a case of cold feet. As an Arab-American and the first in her family to marry a non-Arab, Layla is afraid that this clash of cultures will later complicate her marriage. Surrounded by her cynical older sister, high-strung mother, dementia-plagued grandmother and club-kid cousins, Layla embarks on a roller-coaster ride of emotions while dodging the well-intended but ridiculous beauty, fashion and party tips offered by her family. Layla must explain to her all-American fiancé the importance of the "traditional groom's haircut" which he must endure seated in the middle of the family room, surrounded by Layla's belly-dancing family. An overabundance of food (dishes of stuffed grape leaves, rice, hummus, too many lambs and a misplaced tuna casserole), and the questionable Arab-style "Saturday Night Fever" dance moves of her cousins add to her anxiety, but final words of wisdom put things into perspective for Layla.
Photos by Memo Zack
