I saw this film at the BFI on International Women's Day which was very appropriate. The film was a revelation. As an Israeli woman free to live my life as I please, I never gave a thought to the Israeli Arab women living in our midst who are increasingly integrating into the labour market though less visible in the social scene which is still largely segregated. The three women characters were believable, warm, expressing solidarity to each other despite their very different personalities and life styles. The theme of personal conflicts between tradition and modernity is not new. What makes this film different is that the issues are very real and current and those outside the tradition don't see it. All three actresses are very good, the script is believable and the direction flawless. Go and see it to get an insight into the lives of Israeli Arab women torn between tradition and personal freedom.
16 Reviews
Interesting story, big topics
maricn-600-51383428 November 2016
Got into a cinema not expecting much, but I was rewarded with refreshing story I think many can correlate in some way, disregarding the context of where the story is taking part.
It shows us three girls and their current life stories, focuses on contrast between traditional and religious on one side, and liberal on other. We follow them through Tel Aviv's nightlife where they enjoy being free, escaping their daily lives, but we also see them in front of their religious and conservative families, partners and friends. It realistically portraits a life of urban 20-somethings and their life choices and plans. It had moments where the whole cinema was laughing, and the ones when you could hear laugh from some, like-minded to the lifestyle portrayed in the scenes. But, I think everyone got disturbed by some scenes and were made to question how selfish can we be about our life choices and how much should we impose them on others.
Girls bring out the weight of their situations to the viewers throughout the film. Soundtrack is fitting greatly, giving life to scenes, but remaining an independent weaver.
Film is not exaggerating in any way, and it tastefully makes us conclude we all need to share more empathy and understanding.
It shows us three girls and their current life stories, focuses on contrast between traditional and religious on one side, and liberal on other. We follow them through Tel Aviv's nightlife where they enjoy being free, escaping their daily lives, but we also see them in front of their religious and conservative families, partners and friends. It realistically portraits a life of urban 20-somethings and their life choices and plans. It had moments where the whole cinema was laughing, and the ones when you could hear laugh from some, like-minded to the lifestyle portrayed in the scenes. But, I think everyone got disturbed by some scenes and were made to question how selfish can we be about our life choices and how much should we impose them on others.
Girls bring out the weight of their situations to the viewers throughout the film. Soundtrack is fitting greatly, giving life to scenes, but remaining an independent weaver.
Film is not exaggerating in any way, and it tastefully makes us conclude we all need to share more empathy and understanding.
Not a lot of action, but well presented
Nozz11 March 2017
I don't know what "Bar Bahr" means in Arabic, but I liked the English title-- "In Between"-- less than the Hebrew, which is "Neither Here Nor There." The movie is about how its three heroines suffer from belonging neither to traditional Arab society nor to secular Westernized society. Any base that they may seem to have established for themselves "in between" seems to crumble beneath their feet.
Despite the serious predicament, though, the movie is also very much about sisters doing it for themselves. There's an automatic solidarity whereby women-- at least young women of similar ages-- are all automatically soulmates; and men, it almost goes without saying, are swine. (Well, the gay guy is of course okay and a bit amusing.) Despite those stereotypes, the movie holds interest by virtue of believable acting and believable situations. My wife says it's one of the best we've seen in recent years, and she had the chance to appreciate it a little better than I did not only because she's a woman but also because she understands Arabic somewhat. For those who don't understand Arabic, though, there's still the added benefit of a look into another culture. The Israeli press was particularly impressed that not only traditional Arabic life is glimpsed, but also the small, rarely-explored community of young Arabs in Tel Aviv. (Is it possible that they all really smoke that much?) We see a succession of situations that by no means always involve much action or even much tension, although a couple of crises do come up. Mostly the appeal of the movie is in allowing us to feel like a fly on the wall among interesting people facing interesting day-to-day challenges.
Despite the serious predicament, though, the movie is also very much about sisters doing it for themselves. There's an automatic solidarity whereby women-- at least young women of similar ages-- are all automatically soulmates; and men, it almost goes without saying, are swine. (Well, the gay guy is of course okay and a bit amusing.) Despite those stereotypes, the movie holds interest by virtue of believable acting and believable situations. My wife says it's one of the best we've seen in recent years, and she had the chance to appreciate it a little better than I did not only because she's a woman but also because she understands Arabic somewhat. For those who don't understand Arabic, though, there's still the added benefit of a look into another culture. The Israeli press was particularly impressed that not only traditional Arabic life is glimpsed, but also the small, rarely-explored community of young Arabs in Tel Aviv. (Is it possible that they all really smoke that much?) We see a succession of situations that by no means always involve much action or even much tension, although a couple of crises do come up. Mostly the appeal of the movie is in allowing us to feel like a fly on the wall among interesting people facing interesting day-to-day challenges.
The Clash
westsideschl21 June 2018
A study in tolerance and values as they clash - tradition vs. contemporary; old vs. new; parents vs. older children; male dominance vs. female independence. We see good/bad on both sides - rape, drugs (legal & illegal), abuse, lack of understanding. Families, men & women trying to find love & answers. Centered about a Palestinian community in Israeli Tel Aviv.
Breaking with tradition
Red-12513 July 2017
The Israeli film Bar Bahar was shown in the US with the title "In Between" (2016). It was written and directed by Maysaloun Hamoud.
Three Palestinian women live in an apartment in Tel Aviv. Two of them (Leila Bakhr and Salma) have more or less abandoned traditional values. They drink, smoke, attend raves, and do coke. We assume that their love lives also don't correspond to traditional values, although that is implied, not stated.
The third woman is Noor, who is striving to maintain tradition. Noor is engaged to be married to a man who grudgingly accepts that fact that she is a computer scientist, but would much rather she stay at home once they are married. Not a good sign. The plot revolves around all three of the women, but especially Noor.
Three exceptional actors portray the women. Mouna Hawa plays Leila Bakhr, Sana Jammelieh is Salma, and Shaden Kanboura plays Noor. All three women are strong actors, but I was especially impressed by Shaden Kanboura.
I have to admit that, although I'm hardly a traditionalist, I wish that women who want to cast off tradition could find less toxic ways of demonstrating their independence. (One of my friends says that this is the point--if you want to cast off tradition, you cast it off and take any path you like, including toxic paths.) I see his point, but smoking will still take ten years off their non-traditional lives.
We saw this film at the beautiful JCC Hart Theater as part of the Rochester International Jewish Film Festival. This is always an excellent festival, but it has been even better this year. The festival is almost over as I write this review. We've seen eight films of the ten we plan to see, and I've given every one of the eight an IMDb rating of 9 or 10. If you live in Upstate New York, get on the RIJFF mailing list, because some of the movies will be re-shown later in the year. Also, if you love movies, plan to attend the RIJFF in 2018.
This film is carrying a strong IMDb rating of 7.5. That's good, but I think it's even better than that. If it's available for the small screen, see it that way. It's an exceptional film.
Three Palestinian women live in an apartment in Tel Aviv. Two of them (Leila Bakhr and Salma) have more or less abandoned traditional values. They drink, smoke, attend raves, and do coke. We assume that their love lives also don't correspond to traditional values, although that is implied, not stated.
The third woman is Noor, who is striving to maintain tradition. Noor is engaged to be married to a man who grudgingly accepts that fact that she is a computer scientist, but would much rather she stay at home once they are married. Not a good sign. The plot revolves around all three of the women, but especially Noor.
Three exceptional actors portray the women. Mouna Hawa plays Leila Bakhr, Sana Jammelieh is Salma, and Shaden Kanboura plays Noor. All three women are strong actors, but I was especially impressed by Shaden Kanboura.
I have to admit that, although I'm hardly a traditionalist, I wish that women who want to cast off tradition could find less toxic ways of demonstrating their independence. (One of my friends says that this is the point--if you want to cast off tradition, you cast it off and take any path you like, including toxic paths.) I see his point, but smoking will still take ten years off their non-traditional lives.
We saw this film at the beautiful JCC Hart Theater as part of the Rochester International Jewish Film Festival. This is always an excellent festival, but it has been even better this year. The festival is almost over as I write this review. We've seen eight films of the ten we plan to see, and I've given every one of the eight an IMDb rating of 9 or 10. If you live in Upstate New York, get on the RIJFF mailing list, because some of the movies will be re-shown later in the year. Also, if you love movies, plan to attend the RIJFF in 2018.
This film is carrying a strong IMDb rating of 7.5. That's good, but I think it's even better than that. If it's available for the small screen, see it that way. It's an exceptional film.
Striving for independence
TheLittleSongbird3 November 2017
The subject matter intrigued me a lot, and there were some big, relevant topics and themes that are important and current and always worth addressing. That was my main incentive for seeing 'In Between', as well as wanting to see as many films released in 2017 in my country as possible.
'In Between' is a great, interesting and more than worthwhile film that is worthy of more exposure. It's not one of my favourites certainly but as far as 2017 films go, it is one of the year's most under-appreciated and under-viewed. Read that the mayor of Umm al-Fahm forbade the film and that Maysaloun Hamoud had a fatwa issued against her, and it is a shame that she and the film have been treated that way and really they deserve much better. Subtlety is not a strong suit, with parts that are a touch too heavy-handed and contrived, like how the characters are written at times, which considering what is being talked about was always going to be a danger. Although it might be different for others, there wasn't anything that offended me or came over as questionable.
Having said that, the points that Hamoud makes in 'In Between' are well worth paying attention to. As said, 'In Between' addresses some big, sensitive topics and themes that are very much relevant anywhere, it deals with them in a way that provokes a lot of thought and intrigue. The story, with all the various aspects of the characters' lives (like Jewish neighbour relationships, reactions to a same sex relationship, resistance to suppression and underground culture), is nimbly handled with a lot of genuinely powerful moments.
Visually, 'In Between' is deftly and beautifully shot and edited, while Hamoud directs with adept control and the writing is full of good intentions and certainly makes an impact. The music adds a lot to the atmosphere and emotion.
Shaden Kanboura, Mouna Hawa, Sana Jammelieh and Henry Andrawes all give powerful performances, especially the truly affecting Kanboura.
All in all, may not be the easiest of watches but a great and very interesting film. 9/10 Bethany Cox
'In Between' is a great, interesting and more than worthwhile film that is worthy of more exposure. It's not one of my favourites certainly but as far as 2017 films go, it is one of the year's most under-appreciated and under-viewed. Read that the mayor of Umm al-Fahm forbade the film and that Maysaloun Hamoud had a fatwa issued against her, and it is a shame that she and the film have been treated that way and really they deserve much better. Subtlety is not a strong suit, with parts that are a touch too heavy-handed and contrived, like how the characters are written at times, which considering what is being talked about was always going to be a danger. Although it might be different for others, there wasn't anything that offended me or came over as questionable.
Having said that, the points that Hamoud makes in 'In Between' are well worth paying attention to. As said, 'In Between' addresses some big, sensitive topics and themes that are very much relevant anywhere, it deals with them in a way that provokes a lot of thought and intrigue. The story, with all the various aspects of the characters' lives (like Jewish neighbour relationships, reactions to a same sex relationship, resistance to suppression and underground culture), is nimbly handled with a lot of genuinely powerful moments.
Visually, 'In Between' is deftly and beautifully shot and edited, while Hamoud directs with adept control and the writing is full of good intentions and certainly makes an impact. The music adds a lot to the atmosphere and emotion.
Shaden Kanboura, Mouna Hawa, Sana Jammelieh and Henry Andrawes all give powerful performances, especially the truly affecting Kanboura.
All in all, may not be the easiest of watches but a great and very interesting film. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Terrific portrait of young women in transit between tradition and modernity
dloft5912 March 2018
This Israeli production about Palestinian roommates in Tel Aviv presents a rich and moving array of the quandaries faced by young women on the uneven ground between traditional values and self-determination in a modern, urban landscape.
Leila, a young lawyer, and Salma, who begins the story as a sous chef and then takes a job as a bartender but also moonlights as a rave DJ, are modern young party girls who drink, smoke cigarettes, and do occasional pot and coke when their male friends are offering. Into their apartment moves Noor, an ostensibly traditional Muslim girl who never appears in public without a hijab, and is affianced to an activist who works in an NGO devoted to helping Muslims get by. He's not happy that she's studying computer science at university, and hopes she'll stay at home to raise their children eventually.
All three women collide with their culture's - and especially families' - traditional expectations. Salma's parents introduce her to various unappealing bachelors; Leila meets and dates a filmmaker who has studied and worked in New York but turns out to have some sticking points about her choices. Noor hits the hardest wall, but the way her initially unsympathetic roommates come together for her is beautiful and very satisfying.
Although this story centers on young women, and most of the men are forgettable at best or unpleasant (save for a queen-y gay friend of Leila's and, surprisingly, Noor's father, in a pivotal scene late in the movie), I wouldn't call it a "chick movie." It's well written and acted, and I found it not a great stretch to recognize that some men and families oppress young women in the U.S. in ways that are not so different, even today.
"In Between" is a lovely and solid piece of work.
Leila, a young lawyer, and Salma, who begins the story as a sous chef and then takes a job as a bartender but also moonlights as a rave DJ, are modern young party girls who drink, smoke cigarettes, and do occasional pot and coke when their male friends are offering. Into their apartment moves Noor, an ostensibly traditional Muslim girl who never appears in public without a hijab, and is affianced to an activist who works in an NGO devoted to helping Muslims get by. He's not happy that she's studying computer science at university, and hopes she'll stay at home to raise their children eventually.
All three women collide with their culture's - and especially families' - traditional expectations. Salma's parents introduce her to various unappealing bachelors; Leila meets and dates a filmmaker who has studied and worked in New York but turns out to have some sticking points about her choices. Noor hits the hardest wall, but the way her initially unsympathetic roommates come together for her is beautiful and very satisfying.
Although this story centers on young women, and most of the men are forgettable at best or unpleasant (save for a queen-y gay friend of Leila's and, surprisingly, Noor's father, in a pivotal scene late in the movie), I wouldn't call it a "chick movie." It's well written and acted, and I found it not a great stretch to recognize that some men and families oppress young women in the U.S. in ways that are not so different, even today.
"In Between" is a lovely and solid piece of work.
Free spirits
michael-kerrigan-526-12497420 October 2018
In Between. A drama about three Palestinian housemates in Tel Aviv, Israel. Aptly named film as all three are to some degree caught between a liberal 'western' secular culture and their Muslim faith and associated family values. Laila is a chain smoking heavy drinking free spirit. When she falls for a pot smoking seemingly hedonistic guy, how will he expect her to behave when she meets his family? Salma's parents are trying tirelessly to find her a perfect husband. She rejects all would be suitors because she has not told her parents that she is a lesbian. Noor is from a very strict family and is already engaged to be married. But will living with these free spirits change something within her? A brave portrayal of oft-colliding cultures (the director has received death threats for apparently glorifying female emancipation). A powerful and original 8 out of ten.
between two worlds
dromasca2 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
For once the English translation of the Hebrew title of this film was quite inspired. In Hebrew it was screened as 'lo po, lo sham' (not here, not there) and 'In Between' reflects even better the state of mind but also the social status of the three heroins of this interesting film. It also is quite a rare (but not unique) production in the local film market, a film about the Palestinian Arabs in Israel, spoken almost entirely in Arab, dealing with the tensions and problems in the society and communities of the Arabs living in Israel. I need to mention also that the film was produced by Shlomi Elkabetz and is dedicated to the memory of his late wife Ronit Elkabetz, a wonderful actress and film-maker who passed away a year ago, and supported financially by several Israeli film funds and TV stations.
The three Arab young women in the center of the film live in the cosmopolitan city of Tel Aviv, a city which is liberal and permissive by any criteria. In Israel it is sometimes called 'The Bubble' because of the differences in style of life from the rest of the country – the gape between living in Tel Aviv and the rest of Israel is as large as the gape between living in Manhattan and the rest of the US, or Paris and the rest of France. These differences are even more accentuated for people coming from the Arab sectors society (which are much more traditional than the Jewish ones) and even sharper for women. Leila (Mouna Hawa), Salma (Sana Jammelieh), and Nour (Shaden Kanboura) have each a different life story, try to cope differently with the social, professional, genre, and emotional problems, but at the end will share the same fate of being pushed aside and discriminated for several reasons – belonging to the Arab minority, being women, trying to adopt a style of life and exercise professions, making their own choices in the personal lives.
Such stories cannot have a happy end, and the final scene is almost a freeze-up on desperation, although we know that their fight continues. I liked the solidarity of the three women, the direct, almost rough way their stories are told, the way the three actress enter or better say live in their roles. I liked less the schematic approach of presenting the other characters, bad (mostly) or good. Script author and director Maysaloun Hamoud seems to have borrowed many of the stereotypes of the Israeli films, and her approach in describing the Arab families as super-conservative and the Big City as a living hell populated with smoking, drinking, and drugs misses many other aspects of these complex worlds and situations even if it can be statistically close to reality. In Between could have been a much better movie in my opinion if these over-simplifications were avoided.
The three Arab young women in the center of the film live in the cosmopolitan city of Tel Aviv, a city which is liberal and permissive by any criteria. In Israel it is sometimes called 'The Bubble' because of the differences in style of life from the rest of the country – the gape between living in Tel Aviv and the rest of Israel is as large as the gape between living in Manhattan and the rest of the US, or Paris and the rest of France. These differences are even more accentuated for people coming from the Arab sectors society (which are much more traditional than the Jewish ones) and even sharper for women. Leila (Mouna Hawa), Salma (Sana Jammelieh), and Nour (Shaden Kanboura) have each a different life story, try to cope differently with the social, professional, genre, and emotional problems, but at the end will share the same fate of being pushed aside and discriminated for several reasons – belonging to the Arab minority, being women, trying to adopt a style of life and exercise professions, making their own choices in the personal lives.
Such stories cannot have a happy end, and the final scene is almost a freeze-up on desperation, although we know that their fight continues. I liked the solidarity of the three women, the direct, almost rough way their stories are told, the way the three actress enter or better say live in their roles. I liked less the schematic approach of presenting the other characters, bad (mostly) or good. Script author and director Maysaloun Hamoud seems to have borrowed many of the stereotypes of the Israeli films, and her approach in describing the Arab families as super-conservative and the Big City as a living hell populated with smoking, drinking, and drugs misses many other aspects of these complex worlds and situations even if it can be statistically close to reality. In Between could have been a much better movie in my opinion if these over-simplifications were avoided.
Three Palestinian women in Tel Aviv--different religious backgrounds but the same issues in their love relationships.
gailspilsbury1 November 2017
In Between, directed by Maysaloun Hamoud, continues the dialogue about the equality of women. The movie begins with an older woman waxing a young female leg and sharing advice: "Don't raise your voice, men don't like women who raise their voices. Remember to always say a kind word, and cook him good food. Don't forget to put on perfume and to keep your body smooth so that he desires you."
Music then explodes and we're at a wild, co-ed, bachelorette party in Tel Aviv with drinking, drugs, and dancing—the central characters' regular singles backdrop. Beautiful Laila (Mouna Hawa) with long curly locks and a cigarette always in hand, appears bored with this dating scene. Back home the next day, she and her housemate Salma (Sana Jammelieh ) meet an unexpected visitor, Noar (Shaden Kanboura), who's come to stay with them until she can find her own apartment. Noar explains that her cousin Rafif—Laila and Salma's absent roommate— said it would be all right. These few opening scenes set the stage for a look at the experience of young Palestinian-Israeli women in today's urbane Tel Aviv. Laila's a non-religious feminist lawyer, Salma's a fringe DJ from a Christian family, and Noar's a senior at the university and wears full Islamic garb.
Through each of the women's stories related to their love lives, the film explores male domination, male attitudes toward women, and male abuses when their authority is crossed. Although the film focuses on experiences in today's diverse Palestinian-Israeli culture, the treatment of Laila, Salma, and Noar is universal. The take-away, as the three women process the denouements of their relationships, is sad, to both them and to us: Men (or most), from lovers to fathers, just don't get it, they can't see it, so they can't change. As if cemented into their behavioral genes, the men in the film (with parallels in other cultures) believe they are right about their entitlement to dominate—to tell women how to dress modestly, to not smoke, to stay at home with the kids—or to abuse them if the women resist. Women in the audience of this important movie freeze at moments when Laila, Salma, or Noar stand up for themselves to their men. We freeze fearing a physical blow, a bashing silencer instead of meaningful conversation. How do men in the audience feel during these tense, cowering moments? Undoubtedly the same. Then why can't recognition of the problem on the screen translate to real-life consciousness about equality?
We witness one atrocious punishment against Noar by her fiancé Wissam (and compliments to Henry Andrawas for playing such a horrid role). The camera and audio focus intently on Wissam's zipper going back up after he's committed his brute crime of authority, and this focus makes the audience think how a man's "instrument of lovemaking" also serves as a violent weapon. The three women helping each other through their relationship traumas give the audience another universal: women support, comfort, and work for each other and always have, and this community based on gender solidarity is the basis for their strength—their stamina, wisdom, friendship, and bedrock role in all societies. These qualities, so deep in women, contrast to the male strength of body and physical force. Thus the movie honors women but cannot say there will ever be changes in their relationships with men.
Music then explodes and we're at a wild, co-ed, bachelorette party in Tel Aviv with drinking, drugs, and dancing—the central characters' regular singles backdrop. Beautiful Laila (Mouna Hawa) with long curly locks and a cigarette always in hand, appears bored with this dating scene. Back home the next day, she and her housemate Salma (Sana Jammelieh ) meet an unexpected visitor, Noar (Shaden Kanboura), who's come to stay with them until she can find her own apartment. Noar explains that her cousin Rafif—Laila and Salma's absent roommate— said it would be all right. These few opening scenes set the stage for a look at the experience of young Palestinian-Israeli women in today's urbane Tel Aviv. Laila's a non-religious feminist lawyer, Salma's a fringe DJ from a Christian family, and Noar's a senior at the university and wears full Islamic garb.
Through each of the women's stories related to their love lives, the film explores male domination, male attitudes toward women, and male abuses when their authority is crossed. Although the film focuses on experiences in today's diverse Palestinian-Israeli culture, the treatment of Laila, Salma, and Noar is universal. The take-away, as the three women process the denouements of their relationships, is sad, to both them and to us: Men (or most), from lovers to fathers, just don't get it, they can't see it, so they can't change. As if cemented into their behavioral genes, the men in the film (with parallels in other cultures) believe they are right about their entitlement to dominate—to tell women how to dress modestly, to not smoke, to stay at home with the kids—or to abuse them if the women resist. Women in the audience of this important movie freeze at moments when Laila, Salma, or Noar stand up for themselves to their men. We freeze fearing a physical blow, a bashing silencer instead of meaningful conversation. How do men in the audience feel during these tense, cowering moments? Undoubtedly the same. Then why can't recognition of the problem on the screen translate to real-life consciousness about equality?
We witness one atrocious punishment against Noar by her fiancé Wissam (and compliments to Henry Andrawas for playing such a horrid role). The camera and audio focus intently on Wissam's zipper going back up after he's committed his brute crime of authority, and this focus makes the audience think how a man's "instrument of lovemaking" also serves as a violent weapon. The three women helping each other through their relationship traumas give the audience another universal: women support, comfort, and work for each other and always have, and this community based on gender solidarity is the basis for their strength—their stamina, wisdom, friendship, and bedrock role in all societies. These qualities, so deep in women, contrast to the male strength of body and physical force. Thus the movie honors women but cannot say there will ever be changes in their relationships with men.
Palestinian rumspringa / women's version of The Bubble...
kolnoaMograbi15 November 2017
...that's what jumped into my head as the ending credits rolled. Bar Behar / Lo Po Lo Sham packs a wallop: It's a powerful feminist film that shows us a little-known world: that of twenty-something Palestinians – from both the Palestinian Authority and inside Israel – who move to Tel Aviv to escape the confines of their conservative, patriarchal society.
Despite their differing backgrounds – one Christian, one secular Muslim, and one traditional Muslim – the three roommates stand by each other through their respective patriarchy-based crises with exquisite nurturing and tenderness. Must see.
Despite their differing backgrounds – one Christian, one secular Muslim, and one traditional Muslim – the three roommates stand by each other through their respective patriarchy-based crises with exquisite nurturing and tenderness. Must see.
Raw Glimpse of Islamic Culture
dreamlandislakay23 October 2022
It's amazing what a film can do without Hollywood intervention. In Between is a raw look at Islamic culture through a woman's perspective, as three roommates try to live their own lives and their lovers and families try to crush their spirits. The sexy smoker, the young veiled nun, and the brooding lesbian.
Similar to the film 'Or', this movie has a beautiful realistic pace and mood. Interspersed with good EDM. Scenes are shot in long stage play type shots. The whole world would like a true glimpse at Islamic culture right now, and this is Islam un-hijabed. The surprise is Islam mirroring a more watered down version of the same conflicts in the West.
Similar to the film 'Or', this movie has a beautiful realistic pace and mood. Interspersed with good EDM. Scenes are shot in long stage play type shots. The whole world would like a true glimpse at Islamic culture right now, and this is Islam un-hijabed. The surprise is Islam mirroring a more watered down version of the same conflicts in the West.
An Intimate Slice of Three Palestinian Personal Lives
Elijah_T27 December 2019
I love this film for three reasons: the cinematography, the soundtrack, and the characters.
I love the way the camera is almost always in the right place at the right time, capturing the moment as it unfolds. I love the sudden yet smooth track insertion and the way it's woven into the scenes. I love the characters as people who are just getting through life, its hardships, and its while also taking the time to live enough to love living.
Side Notes:
1) If you go into this film knowing noting, you'll probably enjoy it more.
2) I'm digging the way the opening and end credits were done.
3) Just like the case of How Fernando Pessoa Saved Portugal (2018), I get the strong feeling that I lack certain understandings necessary to "get" the meaning and reasoning behind many things portrayed throughout the film. For instance, le fruit.
Things I Like:
1) How all three characters-Nour, Laila, and Salma-have their own endings and resolutions.
2) The way it touches on the racial matter of speaking Arabic in public.
3) The fact that the crew chose three characters of different sizes.
4) Dat soundtrack.
5) Da flow of tension.
Things I Love:
1) The use of music.
2) The end scene.
3) Laila's resolution and just how intense it felt.
4) The way a surprising resolution brought me to tears.
5) The intimacy of le head rest, les hands, le father, and les three who drink.
Favorite Character:
Laila. For her choices, the way she powers through the painful ones, and her style.
Similar:
Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016), but much lighter.
About the trailers:
Movieclips Indie's (1:40) doesn't show minor spoilers until 1:02 and moderate ones until 1:20.
Dagbladet's (2:26) shows a minor spoiler early on but doesn't show moderate ones until 1:31.
I recommend Movieclips Indie's if you want minimal information about what happens since knowing anything would ruin the flow of tension.
I love the way the camera is almost always in the right place at the right time, capturing the moment as it unfolds. I love the sudden yet smooth track insertion and the way it's woven into the scenes. I love the characters as people who are just getting through life, its hardships, and its while also taking the time to live enough to love living.
Side Notes:
1) If you go into this film knowing noting, you'll probably enjoy it more.
2) I'm digging the way the opening and end credits were done.
3) Just like the case of How Fernando Pessoa Saved Portugal (2018), I get the strong feeling that I lack certain understandings necessary to "get" the meaning and reasoning behind many things portrayed throughout the film. For instance, le fruit.
Things I Like:
1) How all three characters-Nour, Laila, and Salma-have their own endings and resolutions.
2) The way it touches on the racial matter of speaking Arabic in public.
3) The fact that the crew chose three characters of different sizes.
4) Dat soundtrack.
5) Da flow of tension.
Things I Love:
1) The use of music.
2) The end scene.
3) Laila's resolution and just how intense it felt.
4) The way a surprising resolution brought me to tears.
5) The intimacy of le head rest, les hands, le father, and les three who drink.
Favorite Character:
Laila. For her choices, the way she powers through the painful ones, and her style.
Similar:
Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016), but much lighter.
About the trailers:
Movieclips Indie's (1:40) doesn't show minor spoilers until 1:02 and moderate ones until 1:20.
Dagbladet's (2:26) shows a minor spoiler early on but doesn't show moderate ones until 1:31.
I recommend Movieclips Indie's if you want minimal information about what happens since knowing anything would ruin the flow of tension.
Tiresome Throwback To The 80's, We've All Moved On!
martimusross7 September 2020
In Between
This movie had the feel of a student project from the 80's with the same tropes and stereotypes of limitation and shock value.
Is anyone suggesting that smoking a cigarette is an act of rebellion or defiance in 2016.
No one is shock by drinking, smoking drugs or dancing to music in 2016 and this this was suggested.
Somehow there was a suggestion of self determination and female empowerment but they were just swapping one set of rules for another.
To suggest these three girls were on a right of passage and were better for it by the end of the movie was quite ridiculous.
This movie just danced over the surface of the issues with no satisfactory conclusion.
This movie had the feel of a student project from the 80's with the same tropes and stereotypes of limitation and shock value.
Is anyone suggesting that smoking a cigarette is an act of rebellion or defiance in 2016.
No one is shock by drinking, smoking drugs or dancing to music in 2016 and this this was suggested.
Somehow there was a suggestion of self determination and female empowerment but they were just swapping one set of rules for another.
To suggest these three girls were on a right of passage and were better for it by the end of the movie was quite ridiculous.
This movie just danced over the surface of the issues with no satisfactory conclusion.
The movie broadcasting three different equally interesting stories of three Arab women in a difficult society that is ruled by traditions.
aliveperson5 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
As an Arabian woman myself, I really felt connected to this movie so this can come out a little bit biased, however, regardless of that, I think the script was really impressive, it was realistic, capturing ''problems'' that do exist in an Arabic society, even when we're living in Israel, which compared to to every Arab country, it is the safest to be in for us to experience our freedom... Or so that what we thought. The movie casts its light on these issues, showing that we still struggle with such problems & it shows that it mustn't be ignored, I liked that bold move and how just too realistic it was and that's just sad. I do recommend watching it, it's a movie I wouldn't mind watching again and I don't re-watch movies.
In Between (Bar Bahar) - Israel ,2016, 102'min Directed by- Maysaloun Hamound
indiekeshav3 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this film in PIFF - Pune International Film Festival, Maysaloun Hamoud's directional debut is not only inspiring but intelligent. It is a much needed commentary on today's society and I hope more people watch it. In Between (Bar Bahar) was among my favourite films in the festival. This is a film about three Palestinian women sharing a flat together in a metropolitan city in Israel. It revolves and focuses around various themes that are central to the religious and communal feelings of Israel. Layla and Salma are modern liberals who belong to a younger generation. (They drink, they party, they smoke, sometimes weed). They believe in a non-patriarch egalitarian society, where men and women should be treated respectfully. They also believe in a society that is not so conservative about religion. Now enters Nour, a computer science student who is a practising Muslim- she wears a hi-jab, performs her daily prayers. She is about to be married to an Islamist radical who runs a NGO supporting Muslims in need. Nour replaces her cousin sister as Layla's' and Salma's' new flatmate. Their interactions and 'clashes' are very interesting to watch as their different viewpoints collide with one another which creates amusing reactions. The chemistry between these characters is flawless, you cannot help but watch them grow and evolve. This movie had me grabbed by the guts, I was glued to the screen for the entire duration of the film. Each one of these women face a moment or a situation where they are challenged by the society despite being independent in their true nature. Layla is a criminal defence lawyer, she seems to enjoy what she does and she seems pretty good it. She has a witty interactive relationship with her fellow colleagues. However, she is challenged by her boyfriend (a filmmaker coincidental?) who becomes judgemental of her moral ethics. Salma belongs to a Christian family, who works as a cook in restaurant (Which she quits when she was insulted by a coworker) Now she works as a bartender who occasionally takes the role of a DJ. In one of her social interactions, she meets a lesbian, who she falls in love with. She takes her to meet her parents and when they find out about her bisexual nature. They decide to take away her independence from her and keep her at home. She sneaks away and leaves for Berlin, Germany. Nour is subjected to an unhealthy relationship with her fiancé. He wants her to move out of the flat into a choice of his location. However, she refuses his choice as the place was two hours away from her college. Her refusal leads him to violate her sexual, destroying her entirely. Layla and Salma help her through this, they support her, but she is no longer the same person we knew. All of these women have evolved and change. They had two options, either they accept the society they live in or they could choose to fight it back. In the end, I would summarise that the film is about a society that is yet to accept its new generation of people, ideals, morals and values. I think society needs to evolve and change because wearing torn shoes with newspapers won't change anything. Sewing the torn holes and bending the weaker bonds would. Even better is to throw away the old shoe.
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