1. Omar
In the 2013 Palestinian film, a young man named Omar crosses over the Israeli borders to see the girl he loves, Nadia. After being assaulted by Israeli soldiers, he plans an attack on an Israeli checkpoint with his two friends, during which he murders a soldier. Upon his imprisonment after being chased down by the Israeli government, Omar is given the choice to become a double agent working for the Israeli government in exchange for his freedom, which he takes, and later leads him to turning in one of his best friends.
The film was nominated for an Academy Award in 2014 for Best Foreign Language Film, and won Best Feature Film in the 2013 Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
2. The Square
This Egyptian film, released in 2013, showcases the Egyptian revolution and its ups and downs through the overthrowing of Hosni Mubarak and the uncertainty of life under the ruling of the military through the experiences of six protesters. The title of the film comes from Tehrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, where the main protests against Mubarak’s government were held. The film was a nominee in the 86th Academy Awards for Best Documentary Feature, won three of its four nominations at the 2014 Emmy Awards, and is currently streaming on Netflix.
3. A Separation
In the Iranian 2011 film, a family of three is separated over the decision to leave Iran to a more secure country or stay to take care of the husband’s father. This separation leads the husband, Nader, to hire Razieh, a pregnant woman with a hot-tempered husband, to take care of his father while he works. The story follows the broken families on both sides, through numerous complications and court cases, up until Nader and his wife, Simin, file for a divorce, forcing their little girl to choose between her parents. A Separation won Best Foreign Language Film from the Academy Awards, and the Golden Globes in 2011.
4. Wadjda
This film, which is the first to be shot entirely in Saudi Arabia, follows the story of a young girl, Wadjda, who dreams of having a green bike to race her friend Abdullah with. However, due to cultural restrictions, the idea of a girl riding a bike is frowned upon, and her family refuses to buy Wadjda her dream bike. Wadjda takes the matter into her own hands when she enters a Quran recitation competition, with a promised prize of 1000 SR. Wadjda was nominated for Best Foreign Film in the 2014 BAFTA awards.
5. Where Do We Go Now?
All the women in this peaceful village in Lebanon have kept their men in the dark about the atrocities happening around them, in their own country, and around the region. However, one day, violence breaks out between the Muslim and Christian men, who usually have an amicable relationship. The women in the village go to great lengths to restore the peace and trick the men into following their directions again. While the film was not a nominee for an Academy Award, it won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2011.
