Synopsis

Moroccan friends Soundouss and Jaâfar arrive at a luxury villa in the resort town of Cabo Negro to await Jaâfar’s American lover, who is meant to join them there. The days go by, but the American doesn’t appear or answer Jaâfar’s calls. Left on their own in this place of transience, the villa becomes their refuge — but only for so long. As the harsh cultural and financial realities of life outside the villa creep in, the two friends seek out fleeting moments of connection with the other misfits of Cabo Negro. Profoundly subtle and rich, celebrated author Abdellah Taïa’s feature debut is an enchanting, tender ode to kinship and generosity between those pushed to the margins of society.

Synopsis

In a small village in southern Egypt, a group of girls form a street theater troupe as both a creative outlet and a fearless act of defiance. Challenging the patriarchal norms of their conservative Coptic Christian community, the girls dream of becoming actresses, dancers, and singers. They take to the dusty roads of their town to enact short plays that offer provocative challenges to passersby, asking questions like why a girl cannot marry the boy she loves.

Shot over four years with extraordinary access to its subjects, Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir’s film follows these brave girls from adolescence to adulthood, charting the complex and myriad ways in which each must navigate growing up as they form romantic partnerships and  face the social demands of womanhood. As feminist empowerment and aspirational dreams collide with the sobering realities of life, The Brink of Dreams offers a poignant and absorbing coming-of-age story of female solidarity and youthful rebellion. Winner of the top documentary prize at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

Synopsis

In spite of the daily challenges they face – from physical to financial – married couple Sassi (Sasson Gabay) and Effi (Asi Levi) have found an emotional equilibrium in their relationship. Sassi’s son, who has escaped to Europe for safety, ran up an enormous gambling debt, which the two work assiduously to help him pay off. By day, Sassi drives a recycling truck, and Effi is employed at the local pool as a physical therapist. At night they join forces, cooking side-by-side for their prepared foods catering service. Even Sassi’s impotency (the result of prostate surgery) is something they approach with love and humor.

This delicate balance is threatened when two young men burst back into their lives – their grandson, who unexpectedly returns from Europe, and one of Effi’s former students – reopening past wounds and reawakening dormant desires. The ever-perceptive chronicler of human nature and relationships, Shemi Zarhin (Aviva My Love, ), returns to the Festival for the fourth time with this wry and empathy-infused story of love, forgiveness, and the possibility of bliss.

Synopsis

When Sami returns with his wife and son to his Arabic village for his brother’s wedding, he plans a quick return to Jerusalem, where his business and mistress await. Just as he is leaving, the village is unexpectedly put under lockdown by Israeli soldiers, and Sami finds himself caught in an uneasy web of personal and political intrigues. This adaptation of Sayed Kashua’s 2006 novel mixes wry comedy with a touch of the absurd to create a perceptive, winsome satire.

Synopsis

When their factory is bombed, a Syrian family flees Damascus and spends three years living as refugees. Eventually arriving in snow-covered rural Nova Scotia, the family must adapt to unfamiliar surroundings. With the help of some friendly locals (and to the chagrin of others), the family begins to rebuild their chocolate business and their lives. This heartwarming story of perseverance and human connection in the face of insurmountable odds is based on Tareq Hadhad’s real-life story.