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Israel, United States · 2012
1h 36m
Director Michael Mayer
Starring Michael Aloni, Nicholas Jacob, Jamil Khoury, Loai Nofi
Genre Drama, Romance
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One night, two young men — a Palestinian grad student and an Israeli lawyer — connect at a bar in Tel Aviv. Soon enough, their connection blossoms into love. As they seek to find happiness together, they must deal with the myriad obstacles in their way --- their political differences, their tricky family situations, and the overarching condemnation of their romance.
About 45 minutes in, the film’s uneasy détente between subtlety and movie machinery fails outright, as heretofore shown-not-told themes are spelled out — “You forget where you live!” yell family members on both sides — and the paramours try to outrun violence and structural contrivance.
Village Voice by Alan Scherstuhl
The movie is involving, the romance affecting, the sex sound, and the catch-as-catch-can handheld camerawork smartly appropriate for the scenario.
A sometimes over-simplified but often affecting look at forbidden love.
The Hollywood Reporter by David Rooney
In Mayer’s assured hands, a drama that could easily have become schematic instead pulses with urgency, longing and raw feeling, morphing smoothly in its final third into a lean thriller.
Slant Magazine by Diego Semerene
Instead of looking for depth or verisimilar romance, director Michael Mayer turns his characters into mere cogs in a pseudo-suspenseful thriller.
Los Angeles Times by Gary Goldstein
It's unique, powerful stuff.
There's romance and tragedy, but little depth and no nuance.
The New York Times by Stephen Holden
Even though the plot defies credibility at several points, Out in the Dark is gripping.
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