Signature Move

I didn’t love Signature Move. The film followed a Pakistani Muslim lesbian taking care of her mother, as she starts a relationship with a Hispanic woman named Alma. They didn’t seem to have very good chemistry, and their relationship didn’t come across as genuine and authentic. This made it difficult to feel invested in and root for them. Alma in particular was really insensitive when she pressured Zaynab to come out to her mother. Alma claimed Zaynab was going “backwards” and that she was better and more experienced than her. Zaynab in return, expressed that just because her path was different, didn’t make it wrong. I also thought it was unfair of Alma to present Zaynab with an ultimatum, especially when she said that she didn’t want a relationship in the first place. 

However, I did really like both mother characters. Alma’s mom was really cool, supportive, and seemed very approachable. Despite Zaynab’s mother pushing her to find a husband ultimately, she did want her daughter to be happy, as we saw in the scene where she is talking to her dead husband. Zaynab’s mother felt like the most deep and developed character, and I really enjoyed watching her. I found it funny seeing her always peek out the window with her binoculars and commenting to herself. I also liked the friendship between Zaynab and her wrestling coach. One thing that I appreciated about the film was the multitude of cultures portrayed, giving an insight into both Hispanic and Pakistani families.