Free Zone (Serbest Bölge (film))

Directed by Amos Gitai, this 2005 drama is the second entry in the filmmaker's "Border" trilogy. Rebecca, a confused young American who has just broken off her engagement, climbs into a Tel Aviv taxi driven by Hanna and asks to be taken anywhere else. Hanna happens to be heading east to the Free Zone in Jordan to collect money owed to her husband, and Rebecca joins her on the ride. When the man they seek turns out to be gone, Leila, the Palestinian woman running the business, becomes part of the journey, and the three women set off together to track him down.

Over the course of their road trip, the women share their personal stories while confronting the harsh realities of the region. Shot in Israel and Jordan, the film stars Natalie Portman, Hana Laszlo and Hiam Abbass. It premiered on 19 May 2005 at the Cannes Film Festival, where Hana Laszlo received the Best Actress award for her performance.