Sarah is Israeli and runs a café in West Jerusalem. Saleem is a Palestinian deliveryman from East Jerusalem. Despite both being married and coming from opposing sides of a deeply divided region, they are locked in a passionate and dangerous affair.
When a risky late-night trip to the West Bank goes awry and threatens to expose them, they quickly become the subject of a minor international crisis, caught up in the machinations of two warring states.
Desperate to keep their secret and protect their families, Sarah and Saleem find themselves trapped in a web of deceit, espionage and collusion that not even the truth looks able to stop.
This gripping, accomplished thriller set across the Israeli-Palestinian border refuses to take sides, instead illustrating how in Jerusalem, even sex can be made political.
Muayad Alayan
2018
Palestinian Territory
Arabic / Hebrew / English
127 MIN
MA15+
Winner: Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature Film, Seattle International Film Festival 2018
Winner: Special Jury Prize, Titanic International Film Festival 2018
Winner: Audience Award, Rotterdam International Film Festival 2018
"Engrossing. Deftly conveys the tensions between East and West Jerusalem"
- Variety
"A compelling drama in which the personal crosses paths with the political."
- The Hollywood Reporter
"A taut marital drama. Bears hints of Iranian master Asghar Farhadi. Expertly unravels the sexual relationship between adulterers into a thriller with political and societal ramifications"
- CineEuropa