In Same Same But Different, a marriage proposal transforms the lives of three women.

      Dalia Rooni and Lauren Noll admired each other’s work ethic long before they became collaborators on their new SXSW highlight, Same Same But Different.

      “Lauren and I worked as personal trainers at Equinox Hollywood before we joined forces as filmmakers,” Rooni recalls. “We witnessed each other writing, crowdfunding, and producing our own first short films while managing a full set of clients. We appreciated that determination in one another.”

      The duo later participated in two short film competitions and created a short film together, “Gen V,” a comedy thriller about a young vampire girl coping with high school. The film, which explores LGBTQ+ themes and serves as an allegory for being Muslim in post-9/11 America, secured a development deal with Adi Shankar’s Bootleg Universe.

      “We consistently made it a priority to honor each other’s identity and perspective in our work,” Rooni notes.

      Rooni wrote and Noll directed Same Same But Different, which centers on three Iranian-American women: Rana (Medlion Rahimi), Set (Layla Mohammadi), and Nadia (Rooni). Rana looks forward to returning to Iran after working for a wealthy family in Cape Cod whose patriarch is dying. Just as she is wrapping up a summer romance with his son, Adam (Logan Miller), he unexpectedly proposes to her, offering a means to remain in the U.S.

      Set and Nadia arrive with their partners, and they all share a stunning seaside house for the wedding weekend. The cast features Kevin Nealon, Joey Lauren Adams, and Noll in significant roles, along with Nicholas Coombe as Set's lawyer-turned-plumber partner, Nolan, and Michael Baszler as Nadia’s best friend-turned-boyfriend, Ryan.

      We spoke with Rooni, the writer of Same Same But Different, and Noll, the director, about the intersection of life and art.

      Dalia Rooni and Lauren Noll Discuss Creating Same Same But Different

      Same Same But Different director Lauren Noll. Photo by Cameron Thrower.

      MovieMaker: Can you share how Same Same But Different was developed?

      Dalia Rooni: The inspiration for Same Same But Different came from a real weekend that I believe marked a turning point in my life. It was spent in a large summer house by a beautiful beach, where I faced profound realizations about my identity and aspirations. This moment revealed a mix of joy and grief, marking the loss of my innocence and the difficult process of becoming a woman.

      Lauren Noll: When Dalia shared this story with me, I instantly knew it was the right one for our first feature. Within days, we were brainstorming ideas in a coffee shop based on Dalia’s initial draft—this was two years ago now. Dalia describes Nadia as the version of herself from when we first met.

      Many of Nadia’s wild experiences in the script stem from real-life events I witnessed, including the moment she realizes she loves her best friend, “Ryan.” I had been a third wheel to the real Nadia and Ryan for years, so I was deeply invested in these characters before they were even written down.

      MovieMaker: It must be an emotional experience having your film about the complex relationships among three Iranian-American women debut at SXSW while the U.S. and Iran are in conflict. How are you coping and processing this situation?

      Dalia Rooni: I wrote this film during the emergence of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran, which influenced Rana's journey and reflected the tension many Iranian immigrants face—between their origins and their current lives, watching events unfold from afar.

      It's surreal and heartbreaking that the film’s themes feel even more pressing now.

      One statistic I often ponder is that 80% of roles played by Middle Eastern actors on television lean toward negative or threatening stereotypes. This reality emphasizes the need to share stories about Middle Eastern characters that are joyous, multifaceted, and relatable.

      It's not enough to only “humanize” our characters in narratives focused on grief, war, oppression, or trauma. We must also depict their lives on screen as funny, messy, flawed, and liberating, allowing them to lead full lives similar to others.

      Same Same But Different writer and co-star Dalia Rooni

      MovieMaker: I found it intriguing that the lead character, Rana, longs for Iran—not the usual narrative where the protagonist is desperate to stay in the U.S. Can you discuss that complexity and how it impacts her choice regarding a green card marriage proposal?

      Lauren Noll: This dilemma epitomizes why Rana is so conflicted about her situation. Dalia believes that discussions around green card marriages are often superficial, so it was essential to portray the real stories of immigrants who may choose this route to remain in the States, yet feel the weight of their moral decision and the loss of a part of themselves.

      Finding a sense of belonging in this middle ground is difficult. Rana