Malika's Character Development

[Espie]

I think her development was spot on and she had to do what she did to Elias at the end because otherwise, the audience would see that she wasn't being true to herself. Eight years had passed and she could not have kept her innocence that long, so I was saddened by the ending, but it was appropriate.

I agree that we all need her role to enlighten us a bit more about what could be. The outcome was a surprise to me but not a rejected one, too.

[Espie]

I really thought they will end up together, but maybe that was not meant to be. She realizes that she is capable of doing anything and she did not need anyone to achieve her goals.

I hoped for that, too. I also agree that she may have needed to grow even further and become the ultimate-best version of herself and that her separation from Elias could help her achieve that.

[Espie]

It made me sad that they didn't end up together. She freed herself, but she had been tied down for so long that it has left permanent scars. She became someone else entirely and she lost what Elias had loved so much about her. She had lost some amount of joy for living. I don't know if she will be happier with or without Elias. I really didn't like what had happened at the end with them. I was hoping he would accept the new Malika and love her just as much as he loved the old Malika. It just made me so sad!!!

When I realized that there was no happy ending for them, my first reaction was heartbreak. Then I thought, this is how real life works. We tend to forget that everybody changes. Malika has changed a lot, but Elias did too. He realized he was holding on to a memory of something (and someone) who didn't exist anymore and did the right thing. He moved on.

I'm thinking and hoping it would be for the best for both of them, too.

[Espie]

Particularly I wasn't happy. Elias loved Malika to the point of death. A man giving up her life to come stay with you calls for more than self love.
In some point I also understand her, maybe she was just getting back at him. Remember when Elias ran away when he realised Malika was a minor? It hurt her so much so I guess she grew stronger from her pains.
All in all, giving up Elias was not a good thing to do.

Whatever decision Malika (and Elias) decided on, I hope such would be for the better. Who knows, they might still find their way back to each other again, once they've completely found what they wanted for their own selves.

[Espie]

Malika's character initially made me sick. She grew up in prostitution and also earned a living through that. But, as the clock tickled she changed into a new leaf leaving all the bad aside her. Well, I like the fact that she had a new mindset of changing from a dirty life style to a clean one.

I agree that we all need the chance to live a good and decent life. I admire those who grab a pristine opportunity at redemption when such finally arises.

[biscuits]

It made me sad that they didn't end up together. She freed herself, but she had been tied down for so long that it has left permanent scars. She became someone else entirely and she lost what Elias had loved so much about her. She had lost some amount of joy for living. I don't know if she will be happier with or without Elias. I really didn't like what had happened at the end with them. I was hoping he would accept the new Malika and love her just as much as he loved the old Malika. It just made me so sad!!!

It was good she strove to develop herself and succeeded in doing so but I just didn't know why Elias didn't stay. Not meeting someone for eight good years and you still expect the person to be same? How is that possible?

[10mile72]

I loved what happened at the end with ALL the characters. They all had to come out of their illusions and into the real world, which, as it turned out, was not so bad after all.

[Jroberts602]

I felt like Elias objectified her a little bit because he mostly just described her beauty and how enraptured her was by it. (Thank goodness he didn't sleep with her, given her revelation about her age!) I have a hard time in movies when the characters fall in love over a very short time span. I feel like it takes a lot of time to truly get to know someone. But she was admirable in her pursuit of her goals, and he was admirable for not falling prey to his lust. I'm okay with them not ending up together, and maybe now he can move on with less nostalgia.

[Shaimaa]

I was alright with the ending because it's reflective of life and romance - in real life seldom do we get happy endings or end up together and after so long of being apart you find that you've outgrown each other and probably don't mesh/gel with each other's new personality and ambitions in life. C'est La Vie . Got to be okay with letting go too.

I totally understand what you mean, especially how time affects and changes us.

Acceptance and moving on would be ideal indeed. Humans have feelings, which for me are also essential to the whole healing process.

Totally agree with you.

[Ria710]

I really liked her bubbly and confident character. I think the ending of their story fit well.