**** (Four stars)
Two travelers, Eyal (Liron Levo) and Rana (Lubna Azabal), lock eyes in a subway car and, in a hypercheesy rom-com trope, accidentally switch bags. When they meet later to exchange them, sparks fly and they end up spending the next few days together, ensnared in an ever-deepening relationship. Sounds pretty standard, right? Here’s the catch: He’s Israeli, and she’s a Palestinian expat living in Paris. Set against the backdrop of the 2006 World Cup in Berlin, and the Israel-Lebanon war of the same year, Strangers incorporates both events into what turns out to be a wholly atypical love story. The politically charged war especially provides much of the conflict between the two lovers. Buoyed by palpable chemistry between its lead actors and a nice, swift pace, the film imparts a genuine feeling of hope through all the strife and chaos it depicts.—Amy Plitt, editorial coordinator
[This is a TONY staff review, written for the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. It is not considered an official review and should not be read as such. Please think of it as a casual impression from a movie-loving friend.]