Loved this book, and was similarly disturbed when I heard about the change in Chali’s gender in the film. I think you may be right on about the sad attempt to sex up Aaron’s conversion experience, but I also wondered if it was done to remove the potential perception of homosexual undertones? Of course, that was Aaron’s immediate reaction to Chali’s approach, and I suspect that much of America’s filmgoing public (though probably NOT the portion that might go to this movie) would look upon a close friendship between young men, with religion as the primary connector, as somehow suspect.

I wasn’t particularly upset about Juliette Binoche’s casting, but I was less than thrilled about Richard Gere. I have never understood his appeal in the first place and I just don’t see him as earnest enough for Saul.

I did look on the IMDb for the little girl who’s playing Eliza (she’d have to be pretty special) and I was pleased with the way she looked, at least. We’ll have to see if her acting skill measures up.

You are making this up just to stir things up, right?