Alyssa is an outgoing 19-year-old; Mehdi is a 23-year-old introvert and art prodigy. Life in Tunis is weighing them down, so when Alyssa hears of an art contest in a neighboring town, she secretly enrolls her friend in the hopes that the prize–a trip to Germany–will help them realize their dreams.

Director Amel Guellaty’s debut feature is a patient and lovely character study, revealing a post Arab Spring Tunisia rarely seen in cinema. Coaxing winning performances from Eya Bellagha and Slim Baccar, as Alyssa and Mehdi respectively, and with a wonderful score made up of indie bands from Tunis, Guellaty’s film is sure to be a festival favorite, as it was at Sundance.

Tickets for screenings at Pop's Art Theater in Rochester can be reserved here. Passes, 6 Packs, and discounts cannot be used for Rochester screenings.