In recent years, competitive audition shows on TV have been all the rage around the world. In the Middle East, Arab Idol, which in 2013 took place in Cairo, Egypt, became one of the region’s most popular television programs. This was in no small part thanks to the eventual winner of the show’s second season, a young Palestinian man by the name of Mohammad Assaf. The Idol is based on his story. Living in Gaza, Mohammad dreams of becoming a famous singer together with his sister. The two regularly perform on the street and at weddings but their dream eludes them. Losing all hope, Mohammad starts working as a taxi driver to make money. Meanwhile, tragedy befalls a close childhood friend, Nour, who tells Mohammad that, before she dies, she wants to see him sing on TV. The request reinvigorates Mohammad, and he sets out to realize his dreams. Crossing out of Palestine into Egypt against unbelievable odds, Mohammad makes the journey of a lifetime. A film by one of the Middle East’s most distinctive voices, Hany Abu-Assad. (KIM Young-woo)