Nour (Shaden Kanboura), a devout and naïve Muslim computer-science major whose hijab can’t obscure her sweet features and chubby cheeks, makes three. Initially, Laila and Salma mock how she clings to the traditions of her sheltered life and allows her demanding hyper-religious fiancé to call the shots. But they soon find commonalities and will stand by her when Nour is forced into a terrible situation.
At this point, “In Between” briefly threatens to become a revenge thriller as the trio team up to trick the perpetrator. But the punishment turns out to be more one of humiliation than anything else. By now, it is clear that men don’t exactly come off like paragons in this story, although Hamoud, to her credit, realistically allows one father to stand up for his daughter’s choices and movingly defend her honor. But given the recent barrage of sexual abuse allegations and general mistreatment of women, this tale of female independence is in some ways the #MeToo movement personified.
Beyond their gender, however, the threesome also has to deal with being Arabs in Israel’s second-largest city—an awkward situation defined by the film’s title. When Laila and Salma check out dresses at a boutique, they are treated brusquely by a clerk when they ask where the fitting rooms are—leading Salma to say, “We don’t bite.” What is most intriguing about “In Between” is how each woman is allowed to make mistakes and learn from them without any judgment on Hamoud’s part. Not all is perfect by the time the end credits roll. But progress on a small scale has been made and respect to each is granted.
On a side note, which might particularly tickle and impress fans of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” an actual fatwa was issued against Hamoud—the first against a Palestinian in 70 years—for her depictions of homosexuality, intoxication and drug use. That—combined with no less than Isabelle Huppert declaring the women featured in “In Between” as “heroines of our time” while presenting an award at Cannes last year—is as good a recommendation you can get.
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