The Syrian war and its aftermath have formed the basis for many Middle Eastern productions, with the brutality of the events evident throughout the region. Anna Fahr, an Iranian-Canadian-American filmmaker, also explores the conflict in her feature debut, presenting a different perspective on its consequences. Her effort has been quite successful, with the movie screening at festivals worldwide and winning numerous awards.

The story is set in the early years of the Syrian war and follows two sisters, Rima and Nour, as they arrive in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley, seeking refuge. Soon, however, they discover that their housing arrangements have fallen through and eventually end up in a makeshift refugee camp. There, they are taken in by Haifa and her niece Shirin, two Palestinians who share a similar history of war and displacement.

The two women share what little they have with the newcomers. Haifa even arranges for Rima to...