I remember when I first saw the movie (I didn't know it was a book then) and I remember being totally engrossed in it and the storyline. Even then I thought it was one of the best movies I had ever seen.

Then, a few years later, I had to read the book and watch the movie in an anthropology class and was blown away by the book. The book does end somewhat differently though. I still recommend reading the book.

You are right though in that it is an excellent look at the struggle of an old and proud civilization trying to adjust to a new reality. I definitely appreciated too that it wasn't wishy-washy about the clash between culture, it let the reader/watcher decide what to make of the entire tragedy of the family the story centers around.

Thanks for posting a review about it, I hope people take the opportunity to watch it.