Out in the Dark

Two men from opposite sides of a long standing conflict cross paths in a tense city landscape and fall for each other. Nimr, a Palestinian graduate student, and Roy, an Israeli lawyer, form a fragile bond that defies the expectations of family and society. As their affair deepens, so does the pressure from circles that insist on loyalty to nation over love. The story moves through late night encounters, urgent phone calls, and guarded conversations where tiny choices carry outsized consequences. What begins as a private connection grows into a larger test of trust, safety, and political consequence, forcing each man to decide how far he will go for the person he loves.

Directed by Michael Mayer, Out in the Dark brings Yael Shafrir's premise to life with a restrained, intimate tone. The film offers a cross cultural romance within a charged political setting, anchored by strong performances.

Critics respond to the film's quiet, sturdy performances and its refusal to soften the stakes. The narrative centers on love in a landscape of law and faction, highlighting the price of secrecy and the risks ordinary people take when passion collides with politics.

While not a blockbuster, the film found a foothold in festival circuits and LGBTQ film spaces where it sparked conversations about intimacy under occupation. It adds a distinct voice to Middle East cinema that addresses cross border romance.