Falsely accused of being involved in terrorist activity, Layal is arrested, interrogated, and incarcerated in an Israeli jail. As she becomes accustomed to being surrounded by hardened Israeli criminals and Palestinian political prisoners, all to the tune of the torment visited by cruel guards and a nearly sadistic warden, Layal discovers she is pregnant. Life in prison acts as a metaphor for living under occupation, where Palestinians are treated harshly and are subject to rules that do not apply to Israelis. This separation is everywhere, but is quietly underlined in the film with costume: while the Israeli women are allowed to wear what they wish, Palestinian inmates are uniformly dressed in regulation blue overalls.

Chained to a bed, Layal gives birth to a son, whom she names Nour and raises as lovingly as she can, with the love and support of her Palestinian cohorts. When they get wind of the Sabra and Shatila massacre, the traumatised women stage a strike to demand their fundamental rights. While their revolt is eventually met with a harsh crackdown, nevertheless, with resistance comes the hope for future freedom—marked here by the gently colourful clothing of now two-year-old Nour, a stark contrast with the otherwise dark and drab outfits worn throughout the institution.

This screening will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker.