Watch In Between

In Between, a 2016 film directed by Maysaloun Hamoud, depicts the lives of three young Arab-Israeli women living in Tel Aviv. The film follows the friendship of the three women, Laila (Mouna Hawa), Salma (Sana Jammelieh), and Nur (Shaden Kanboura), as they navigate their way through the challenges of life in a conservative society. Laila, a spirited and independent lawyer, is in a steady relationship with Ziad (Mahmoud Shalaby), a modern Muslim who supports her ambition. However, Laila’s world is turned upside down when Ziad’s family intervenes, insisting that she drop her career ambitions and conform to their traditional ways as a wife and mother.

Salma, a lesbian DJ, struggles with disappointing her conservative Christian family and the prejudices she faces as an Arab lesbian in Israel. Despite her own fears and insecurities, Salma finds solace in her friendship with Laila and Nur, who support her as she pursues her passion for music.

Nur, a religious and conservative Muslim, is a college student studying computer science. She is engaged to her cousin, Wissam (Henry Andrawes), who lives in Palestine. Nur’s world is shaken when she discovers that her fiancé is cheating on her, causing her to question her faith and the expectations placed on her as a Muslim woman.

These three dynamic and complex characters form a bond that provides them with unyielding support in a society that does not always accept them. Throughout the film, they challenge the social norms and expectations placed upon them, challenging both their families’ religious and cultural beliefs and the wider society’s prejudices.

In Between is a film that challenges stereotypes and explores the intersectionality of identity, culture, and religion for Arab women in Israel. It examines the complexities of living in a society that requires conformity to traditional roles while also aspiring towards freedom and individuality.

The film has been praised for its outstanding and fearless performances by its three female leads who capture the nuances and complexities of their characters’ lives. Additionally, critics have praised the film’s honest and sincere treatment of progressive themes including homosexuality, pre-marital sex, and feminism.

In Between is a strikingly beautiful film that offers a window into modern Israel by portraying the daily struggles and triumphs of three women fighting for their dreams and identities. It is an extraordinary work of cinema that offers an important contribution to the ongoing conversation on the rights of women and minorities in society.

In Between is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 78.