Loving a Stranger

Co-directors Boris Ivanov and Julia Ivanova focus on four North American women who recount their relationships with Muslim men in this troubling documentary. Roxanne, Stephanie, and Lainie appear on camera, while Alison is only seen in silhouette or through pixelated images. If the ladies aren't rich, they're definitely better off than their suitors. The primary subject, 41-year-old mother Roxanne, travels to Morocco to marry her 25-year-old fiancé, Abdel, a man she met while on vacation. After a failed marriage to a fellow Canadian with whom she had a lot in common, Roxanne decided to take a chance on someone completely different, in hopes that she would have better luck. It seems a rather naive notion, even if Roxanne did spend two years getting to know Abdel (the disclosure that he added two years to his age doesn't bode well, although they remain together when the credits roll). Roxanne's friend, Stephanie, also married a man from Morocco; Alison wed a Pakistani suitor; and Lainie's husband, Akra, hails from Guinea. Only Stephanie expresses interest in converting to Islam, a point of contention for the other couples. Unfortunately, Lainie's marriage didn't last; after Akra moved to Toronto, things quickly unraveled (he says she was too controlling, but Lainie believes he was just looking for a green card, and proceeds to testify against his petition to remain in the country). In all cases, the men appear to prioritize their economic situations over the fostering of a solid bond, making for a cynical if also thought-provoking film. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)