The Reports on Sarah and Saleem
Dada Films | Release Date: June 12, 2019 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
69
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews
Positive:
8
Mixed:
0
Negative:
1
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
90
Arizona RepublicKerry LengelJul 25, 2019
The power dynamics between two peoples locked in “asymmetrical conflict” — not to mention two sets of gender codes — set the stage for Alayan’s thriller. In storytelling terms, they are the rules by which the tightly wound plot unspools. But the film’s great strength, in addition to the usual quality-control things, is its care to humanize, not demonize, the characters who are playing by those rules. Read full review
88
Washington PostVanessa H. LarsonJul 9, 2019
At its heart, though, this is a film about human nature: about desire, recklessness and emotions. The fraught relationship between Israelis and Palestinians is this tale’s powerful overlay. But it’s the questions it raises about personal accountability that speak to wider truths. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranJun 14, 2019
The Reports on Sarah and Saleem snaps, crackles and pops. A taut and compelling Jerusalem-set melodrama, it effectively intertwines the personal with the political in a way that is only enhanced by that city’s fraught atmosphere and cultural dynamics. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleZaki HasanJul 11, 2019
A fascinating and unsettling look at the ramifications of marital infidelity when shone through that specific geopolitical prism. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterJordan MintzerJun 11, 2019
Muayad Alayan coaxes excellent performances out of the two leads and their supporting spouses, and even if the drama can seem heavy-handed in a few places, it remains quite believable throughout. Read full review
70
The New York TimesBen KenigsbergJun 11, 2019
Alayan’s light directorial touch can make the storytelling seem overly straightforward. But his tight control over the proceedings becomes clear in a closing shot that elegantly encapsulates the film’s complexities. Read full review
70
Screen DailyWendy IdeJun 11, 2019
Unshowy camerawork and an understated score both place the emphasis on the largely impressive and naturalistic performances. Read full review
70
VarietyJay Weissberg
If at times it feels like the Alayan brothers have bitten off more than they can chew, the core of the plot, and the weighty issues raised, fortunately remain front and center. Read full review
38
Slant MagazineDiego SemereneJun 11, 2019
We never spend enough time with the characters to believe the urgency, and lushness, of their cravings. Read full review
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