With so much news focused on the violent strife that often plagues the Middle East, it could seem as if there is nothing but heartache and despair in the region. But movie-lovers know better. In the following films, filmmakers depict essential human experiences without relying on the region’s pervading violence. Instead, they turn their stories into compelling pieces of art that instill hope in their audiences—and show the other side of life.
A Separation (2011)