The truckers of all nationalities think of the café as a little home away from home. The café is located on the highway near the Turkish border and soon becomes a favorite of the truckers due to the delicious meals prepared by Reyhan and the friendly, family atmosphere. She defies all convention and reopens the café that was owned by her husband. Neither will she move into her brother-in-law's house. She loves and respects her brother-in-law and his family but makes it clear that it is not the custom where she was reared to marry her dead husband's brother and does not intend to do so. Reyhan is an extremely independent woman. He is not a wild-eyed Iranian man demeaning and castigating women, but a loving man who honors the women in his life - a view we here in the United States don't often see of men of this region of the world. He remains extremely patient considering the affront to his pride by his determined sister-in-law. He is simply a good man trying to follow the customs of his family and community and provide for his dead brother's family. All of this is carried out in a most courteous fashion. Nasser's wife and mother - as well as his younger brother - also implore Reyhan to honor the custom and, therefore, honor her dead husband. Nasser - her brother-in-law and future husband - tries every way he can to convince Reyhan to follow the custom. Reyhan is an independent woman and chooses not to move. It is not stated, but implied that she is also expected to give her new husband sexual favors. It seems that this is the custom in this area of Iran. Widow Reyhan is expected to take her two children and move in with her husband's older brother. The story is one that is lived over and over again in our society - a widow continues her husband's business - but placing the same situation in Iran, makes it a totally different ball of wax. A clash of several different cultures is the basis of Border Café.
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