In Between

CERTIFIED FRESH ON ROTTEN TOMATOES (98% RATING)
Maysaloun Hamoud’s remarkable debut feature In Between follows three strong
and independent-minded Palestinian women who share an apartment in Tel Aviv.
Away from the constraints of their families and tradition, they find
themselves in between the free and unfettered lives they are aspiring to lead
and the restrictions still imposed on them by society. Laila, a successful
lawyer, craves the love of a good man and thinks she’s found him in the
apparently open-minded and handsome Ziad. Salma, while striving to fulfill her
dream of becoming a DJ, falls for a beautiful doctor, but is forced to keep
their love a secret from her family. Laila and Salma’s hard partying lifestyle
initially comes as a shock to the more traditional and reserved Nour. She is
engaged to marry a seemingly devout Muslim, who, behind closed doors, is not
the man he appears to be. Eventually, a shocking series of events will push
these brave women to the limits and change their lives forever, while also
sealing their bond of friendship. Bonus features include behind-the-scenes
featurette and short film Scent of the Morning, by director Maysaloun Hamoud.
Package includes Directors’ Statement, Why-We-Selected statement, and chapter
breaks. Review WINNER – Best Actress – Awards of the Israeli Film Academy
WINNER – Best Supporting Actress – Awards of the Israeli Film Academy WINNER –
Best Film – San Sebastian Film Festival WINNER – NETPAC Award – Toronto Int’l
Film Festival WINNER – Best Debut Feature Film – Haifa Int’l Film Festival
WINNER – New Director’s Award – Kosmorama Int’l Film Festival WINNER –
FIPRESCI Prize – Istanbul Int’l Film Festival WINNER – Audience Award – Zagreb
Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION – Palm Springs Int’l Film Festival OFFICIAL
SELECTION – Göteborg Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION – Santa Barbara Int’l
Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION – Kino Pavasaris – Vilnius Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION – Cleveland Int’l Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION – Jeonju
Int’l Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION – Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION – Berkshire Int’l Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION – New
Horizons Film Festival —A perfect movie for the moment…it makes its points
with an impressive mixture of clarity and nuance. The central performances are
all terrific… an unusually welcoming and engaging film, inviting you to
become a part of the circle of friends it depicts with such energy and warmth.
– A.O. Scott, The New York Times [An assured feature debut]…With the
outstanding contributions of cinematographer Itay Gross and composer M.G.
Saad, Hamoud brings the city’s youthful grit and vitality into focus, as well
as the specific in-between that her characters occupy. The writer-director has
a keen ear for natural dialogue, lent unpredictability and dimension by the
lived-in performances of her three dazzling leads. – Sheri Linden, The Los
Angeles Times Director Maysaloun Hamoud proves herself to be a talent to
watch. –Bilge Ebiri, The Village VoiceA fascinating debut feature by
Maysaloun Hamoud…affecting, and entertaining. (And beautifully photographed,
by Itay Gross.) – Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal A Palestinian feminist
revenge fantasy. – Julia Felsenthal,Bold, brassy and beautiful.
–Ella Taylor, NPR.org

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