Dégradé (2016)

On a sweltering summer's day in the Gaza Strip, the hum of a rare electricity supply buzzes through Christine's beauty salon, a sanctuary for a diverse group of women. Among the clientele are a hopeful bride-to-be, an expectant mother, a cynical divorcee, a devout follower, and a woman lost in her addiction. The salon, usually a hub of tranquility amid the chaos of Gaza, suddenly transforms into a pulsating epicenter of tension when unexpected gunfire echoes through the air. Across the street, a notorious mafia family has dared to snatch the lioness from Gaza's sole zoo, causing an uproar that shakes the fragile peace. The omnipresent Hamas, determined to settle this audacious act and old grudges, steps into the fray. The echoing gunfire sends shockwaves through the salon, transforming the serene beauty haven into a cage of fear and uncertainty. The thirteen women find themselves trapped in the salon, their refuge now a prison. As the prospect of death inches terrifyingly closer, the facade of normalcy begins to peel away. The women, each battling their own demons, now also grapple with the looming threat of chaos and violence. With every passing second, the question arises - will they pay the ultimate price in this unexpected war to liberate the lioness? As personalities clash and secrets unravel, the salon becomes an explosive microcosm of life in Gaza. The women, caught in the crossfire, must navigate through the turmoil, their lives hanging by a thread in the simmering cauldron that is Dégradé.

Dégradé is a comedy movie directed by Arab Nasser.

Dégradé is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.