VALLEY ROAD
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LATE SHIFT
Director: Petra Volpe
Petra Volpe’s salute to caregivers is executed with strength and admiration. Led by a nuanced and meticulous performance from Leonie Benesch, Late Shift is an eloquent plea for compassion, as well as being a gripping story about a day in the life of a hospital worker. Floria (Benesch) is a nurse on an understaffed surgical ward, where she balances the constant demands of her patients — medical and emotional — knowing that every decision she makes (or neglects) could have fatal consequences. Floria, and Volpe’s camera, are constantly on the move to beeping monitors and crash carts in the ward’s confined quarters. As Switzerland’s Oscar submission, Late Shift delivers high drama and a sharp question: who will care for the carers?
A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
Director: Anas Ba-Tahaf
A quirky love story set against the bustling backdrop of Jeddah. Convinced a generational curse will kill her on her 30th birthday, the superstitious Hayat is ready to embrace fate. Meanwhile the brilliant but shy heart surgeon Yousef suffers from a slow heartbeat, finding his only thrill when holding a scalpel. He grapples with a hidden urge to kill, which he suppresses until he meets Hayat. Fate entwines the woman who wants to die and the man who wants to kill, setting a tragic plan in motion. Everything falls into place until a life-affirming love intervenes. This exceptional tale, brought to life by a witty script and cast, uses the city’s stunning Red Sea scenery to explore the unpredictable beauty of life and connection.
UNIDENTIFIED
Director: Haifaa Al Mansour
Noelle Al Saffan, a 29-year-old divorcee, returns to her small hometown for a fresh start. A fan of true crime podcasts, she gets a mundane clerical job at the local police station, digitizing old files. Her life changes when a teenage girl's body is found in her school uniform, with no ID. Haunted by the girl's senseless death, Noelle decides to investigate. She uses her insight into the hidden world of women to identify the victim, befriending a group of women and other characters that all seem connected to the crime. To solve the mystery, she must challenge her preconceived notions about women and their threats.