Film Forum

Sarah, an Israeli café owner living in West Jerusalem, has a clandestine relationship with Saleem, her Palestinian bread vendor, who lives in East Jerusalem. When their spouses discover the affair, two lives – already divided by politics, culture, class, and marital commitments – are made infinitely more complicated. A not uncommon betrayal takes on an entirely sinister new twist as Israeli and Palestinian authorities misread the writing on the wall. Muayad Alayan’s psychological thriller is shot through with dark, entirely believable intrigue that gives new meaning to the adage the personal is political. Based on true events.

Presented with support from the Joan S. Constantiner Fund for Jewish and Holocaust Films

PALESTINE / THE NETHERLANDS / GERMANY / MEXICO     2018    127 MINS
IN ARABIC, ENGLISH AND HEBREW WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES      DADA FILMS

Reviews

“Impressive and naturalistic performances.”
– Wendy Ide, Screen International

“A compelling drama in which the personal crosses paths with the political. Excellent performances.”
– Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter

“Engrossing... sharply edited. [This] taut psychosocial drama with political thriller elements deftly conveys the tensions, both physical and mental, between West and East Jerusalem.”
– Jay Weissberg, Variety

“Muayad Alayan’s beautifully observed, studiously discomfiting film has a lot ot say about power and privilege. A morally complex film where political tensions seep into everyday life in unexpected ways.”
– Jennie Kermode, Eye for Film