Lebanese debut Furies leads winter Middle East cinema slate
The bank robbery thriller is hailed as the year's best Arab film, joining other region releases from Iran, Iraq, and Egypt.
By Carlos Rousseau ·
A new Lebanese bank heist film has been named the leading release in the region's winter cinema lineup.
Furies, the debut feature from director Rami Kodeih, is being credited with revitalizing a local film industry that has struggled for the past seven years. The story draws from the 2019 Lebanese economic crisis, when citizens attempted to recover frozen savings from banks. The plot follows two sisters, Maro and Dalia, who plan to rob a bank after a manager denies Maro's request to withdraw funds for Dalia's cancer treatment.
Kodeih, who was born in Beirut and now lives in Los Angeles, directs the film with a fast-paced style that captures the daily life of the capital. The movie features a cast that includes Rym Mroue, Maria Nakouzi, Issam Bou Khaled, and Hasan Akil. Critics note that the film vividly portrays the city's mix of chaos and solidarity. It also addresses the tension between different religious groups, a dynamic that persists 35 years after the end of the civil war.
The film has received high praise for its energy and emotional impact. One reviewer described it as possibly the best Arab film of 2026. While some noted that the relationship between the sisters could be deeper and the final car chase was awkwardly staged, the film is seen as a major step forward for Lebanese cinema.
Furies competes with several other titles from the Middle East scheduled for winter release. Iran's Ali Asghari presents A Bit of Light, a drama set in Tehran in February 2026. The film follows a physician named Arash who decides to end his life as war approaches. The story uses dark humor to depict the lives of ordinary people facing military strikes.
Other releases include Falling House, an Iranian domestic thriller about a prison guard who locks his family in their home to protect them. The film explores themes of patriarchy and family dynamics. Iraq and Norway's Halkawt Mustafa offers No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman, an action thriller about a Kurdish woman who becomes a sniper to rescue her sister from Islamic State captors.
The final film on the slate is Elbaraneya, a debut feature by Danish-Egyptian director Ashgan El Hamus. This family drama is set in the Egyptian countryside and uses non-professional actors to create a documentary-like feel. The collection of films represents a diverse range of genres, from heist thrillers to domestic dramas, aiming to reach both local and international audiences.
