Ajami

An Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, Ajami is a brave, apolitical look at Jews and Arabs in Jaffa's multi-ethnic Ajami neighborhood—a searing debut by Israeli and Palestinian co-directors Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani, whose balanced perspective and use of non-professional local actors lend a palpable authenticity to a complex, cross-cultural drama. Shakespearian in its scope and themes—revenge, loyalty, hope and despair—the film draws us into the lives of two brothers fearing assassination; a young Palestinian refugee working illegally to cover his mother's medical expenses; and a Jewish cop obsessed with finding his missing brother. Through its unprecedented authenticity and immediacy, Ajami forces us to look at the Middle East conflict through the commonality of the human condition—and the tragic consequences of enemies living as neighbors. (Fully subtitled) 

Director:

Scandar Copti

Cast:

Shahir Kabaha, Ibrahim Frege, Fouad Habash, Nisrine Rihan, Youssef Sahwani, Ranin Karim, Eran Naim, Scandar Copti