Strangers

Finally, I’ve found a true gem. Strangers was introduced as the modern day Romeo and Juliet story with a Middle East conflict twist. Rana, from Lebanon, and Eyal, from Israel, meet in Berlin on their way to the World Cup finals when their bags accidentally get switched. They share a few days and romance blooms. When the topic of politics and war comes up, they decide that two people sitting in a bar in Berlin for a night probably can’t solve an age-old problem. They share one more beautiful night and then Rana must fly back to Paris in the morning. At the airport, she asks Eyal not to call her again. The next day he flies to Paris instead of Israel.

Once in Paris, it becomes increasingly apparent that the couple’s political views can never align. They watch news reports of bombings and each calls friends and family speaking rapidly in languages they other does not understand. Possibly the most touching part of the film is the day Eyal spends with Rana’s 5-year old son strolling through Paris. At this point, the audience begins to think their relationship could really work.

The two lead actors, Liron Levo and Lubna Azabal, are their characters. The combination of incredible acting and chemistry between the two plus the one-man camera crew makes the audience feel as if they are watching a home movie of these characters’ lives. Strangers feels like a darker and more romantic twist on Once blended with a political and less philosophical bit of Before Sunrise.

And in the end? Is it a true Romeo and Juliet story? All I will say is the ending is fabulous. And much better than a piano.

*On a side note, we selected this film partly because of an article about the soundtrack. Supposedly Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova of Once wrote a song for this film. We never recognized it in the film but the entire soundtrack was beautiful.