Two Syrian sisters try to start a new life in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in Valley of Exile. In 2013, at the start of the Syrian war, sisters Rima (Maria Hassan) and Nour (Hala Hosni) fled their home in Homs to the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. The sisters find themselves locked out of the apartment arranged for by Rima’s husband Firas (Moe Lattouf) and they instead find accommodation in a refugee camp with Haifa (Najwa Kandakji) and her niece Shirin (Joy Hallak). While a very pregnant Rima goes to work as a housekeeper for the camp’s builder Khaled (Michel Hourani), Nour secretly makes a deal with Lebanese soldier Hasson (Sajed Amer) to find her rebel brother Ahmad.
Valley of Exile Synopsis
Valley of Exile is a drama set in the early years of the Syrian war written and directed by Anna Fahr. The story focuses on pregnant Syrian refugee Rima and her teenage sister Nour, who fled their home to Lebanon. Rima is waiting for her husband Firas to join them, so they can begin a new life in the Bekaa Valley. However, Nour is more interested in locating her brother Ahmad, who is a wanted rebel in the area. Nour’s actions end up endangering the sister’s attempts to rebuild their life.
My Thoughts on Valley of Exile
Valley of Exile is quite a heavy drama about what it meant to be Syrian at the start of the country’s civil war a decade ago. While Rima wants to begin a new life in Lebanon, Nour believes they will never be welcome and wants to find her brother and return to Syria. Valley of Exile ends up dragging somewhat towards the end, as the poor fortune of these sisters begins to pile up. However, the film’s still well produced, with solid performances.