MovieChat Forums > Chasing Freedom (2004) Discussion > Can anyone confirm this cultural goof?

Can anyone confirm this cultural goof?

posted 13 years ago by imdb-16141
1 reply | jump to latest

Right after the judge decides to send Meena back to Afghanistan, the head of the defense team Eric Hoffman is in the detention center telling Meena to not give up (DVD Scene Index 11, time: 1:14:28). Meena's hands are on the table in front of her. Eric reaches over and holds her hands as the final part of his "not giving up" talk. I understand that due to common Afghanistan culture, a woman from Afghanistan would not have let the man touch her; she instinctively would have pulled back, regardless of the good willingness intended. I have seen this very thing happen in real life when an Afghanistan female student had this happen to her. Can anyone else confirm this cultural goof?

[–] danielri 12 years ago

You have to understand this scene in context. It takes place in the USA, not in her home country. She has decided to come to the US, realizing full well that there are cultural differences to which she will have to adapt and most of which will be in her favour in terms of increased freedom. So I think the scene is ok - and never thought it was inappropriate until you pointed it out.