I'm not so sure about that. I think all characters had their own flaws (except maybe Shahryar and his wife (the restaurant couple), but they were merely supporting characters).
Ahmad comes across as level-headed and calm, but four years earlier he was in a depressive state of feeling lonely and worthless, just like Céline was. He has the "luxury" of just having spent four years abroad, therefore being able to maintain himself as objective and the least stressed-out one in the film. However, one may argue that Ahmad's flaw is that he is too compliant and that he can't make a stand for himself.
Samir was a dominating "alpha male" and, if we read between the lines, there were signs that he was aggressive and possibly even abusive when being under stress. It may be argued that he was at the root of all problems that we encounter in this story. We don't ever see any explicit abusive behavior from him, but maybe he's keeping up appearances in front of the "newcomer" (= Ahmad). Lucie obviously didn't like him, possibly because of his aggression and/or abuse, hence why she revealed the affair to his wife, in a foolish attempt to make Samir break up with her mother. (She didn't know Céline was depressed, and she couldn't have foreseen what the reveal would lead to.) Marie possibly suffered Samir's frustrations, and in turn vented them on the kids. (By the way, was it ever explained how Marie injured her right arm? At the airport, her right arm was in a sort of brace/orthopedic sleeve or something.)
My theory is that Fouad accidentally caused the stain on the dress (he was always in the laundrette, playing and being near the bottles of chemicals) but never owned up to it because he was afraid his dad might give him some severe punishment. There are several instances in the movie where he refuses to speak and own up to something he did, he was obviously a scared kid and he was starting to copy behavior from his dad (keeping his emotions inside, closing himself off, acting out his frustrations on others). However, Ahmad sort of becomes a new role model to him, when he shows a different way of dealing with Fouad's malbehavior.
So yes, Samir was reflective of his mistakes, but he was arguably the one who had the most soul-searching and "taking responsibility" to do.
______
Joe Satriani - "Always With Me, Always With You"
http://youtu.be/VI57QHL6ge0
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fairy_depp
9 years ago
I don't think it was misogynistic.. As the previous poster said, every character had their flaws and were at different stages in the healing process. Ahmad had previously been through depression and admitted that he had considered suicide, Lucie was just a normal angsty teenager in my mind but hopefully can begin to heal her relationship with her mum now. The excuse for the wrist is given as the baby taking all of the mothers calcium and perhaps a decorating injury, I didn't see it as a physically abusive relationship although he was clearly a little detached (understandably as his wife had committed suicide). I wish the film had a more conclusive ending as the wife seemed to recognise the scent with a tear coming down her face but he couldn't live forever with a wife in a coma and clearly had a new baby on the way
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