The Syrian Bride is the story of Mona, an Israeli bride who leaves her village in the Golan Heights to marry a Syrian man she has never met. Years ago, her father, Hammed, arranged for her to marry Tallel, who has since become a successful actor in Syria. Hammed has gathered the family together to see Mona off, but the occasion is a bittersweet one. Given the combative relationship between Israel and Syria, once Mona crosses the border with her husband it’s unlikely she will ever be able to return to Israel. Amidst this the family deals with its own anxieties: Hattem, the oldest son, comes back from Russia, but his father still refuses to forgive him for leaving the land of his birth. Marwan, a younger son living in Italy, uses his visit home as an opportunity to visit Jeanne, an American UN representative he’s been dating. And daughter Amal helps her sister Mona deal with the stress and details of her big day as she struggles to live as a modern woman.

Eran Riklis has been creating films since 1975. After graduating from the National Film School in Beaconsfield, England, he produced his first feature film titled On a Clear Day You Can See Damascus. This was followed by several other award-winning films including Cup Final (1992), Zohar (1993), and Volcano Junction (1999).

Producers: Bettina Brokemper, Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre, Michael Eckelt, Eran Riklis Screenwriters: Suha Arraf, Eran Riklis Cinematographer: Michael Wiesweg Editor: Tova Asher Music: Cyril Morin Cast: Makram Khoury, Clara Khoury, Ashraf Barhoum, Eyad Sheety, Robert Hoenig, Derar Sliman, Norman Issa, Evelyne Kaplum, Jean-Anne Roth, Adnan Tarabshi, Marlene Bajjali