It’s quite the gamble for this Iraqi immigrant trying to be an American citizen when his home country causes him turmoil.

The title “If You See Something” reminds me of what train stations tell us on the intercom: “See something, say something.” I’m sure other transportation places tell us that too, but I mostly hear them at train stations. But that’s not that this movie is really about.

Kathryn Bigelow’s latest film “A House of Dynamite” has been criticized by the Pentagon as being “inaccurate” in its dramatization of what would happen if a missile from an unknown location was on its way to attack part of our country and no heat seeker could stop it. But she responded: “I state the truth. In this piece, it’s all about realism and authenticity.” And I agree with her that there are no guarantees, just a lot of thinking about how society has viewed the subject matter for years.

“If You See Something” is a small movie that doesn’t focus on missiles or bombs, but it does deal with an Iraqi immigrant who might risk everything just to help out a friend in a ransom by terrorists. And these issues are big. But according to the director Oday Rasheed, who based this film on his own experiences, it’s more about cross-cultural connection acceptance and rejection.

We begin with “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” romance between an American artist named Katie (Jess Jacobs, who co-wrote the film with Avram Ludwig) and an Iraqi doctor named Ali (Adam Bakri) in New York City. She is trying to get her business on track, while he is trying to get citizenship.

Ali wants to leave his life in Baghdad behind, because of how all the chaos has killed most of his friends and left him in state of fear. Three days in New York, and already, he feels like an American. But one day before having dinner with Katie’s estranged dad (Reed Birney) and her pregnant sister Margot (Lucy Owen), Ali receives a phone call regarding a kidnapping of a surviving friend of his in his home country. And given his upcoming asylum interview and her art show, he doesn’t want to tell her about his pathos.

You know the girlfriend is starting to get curious about the immigrant’s secret mission, but the guy has to tell her he doesn’t need to tell her anything. And this is when they have their break-up.

I also suspect that the girl’s father might be prejudice against Ali’s people, starting with how he criticizes him for handling his dishes at dinner and towards the end when he finds out what’s going on. So, no Spencer Tracey characteristics here.

Without spoiling anything for you? “If You See Something” and “A House of Dynamite” are on different subject matters, but they don’t guarantee happy endings. They’re more in the “What If” scenario. In Ali’s case, whatever happens could affect his citizenship. Not everything in the movie is clear, but it does make sense and it does resonate with people and our society. And Bakri is very good as the main immigrant, especially with how he adapts to his character’s pathos. There’s a lot of tension with what’s happening in his home country and what principles there are in America. So, how would a person react in these circumstances?

Now Playing in Select Theaters