Out in the Dark 2013

The story unfolds in the complex backdrop of Israel and Palestine, centering on Nimer Mashrawi, a Palestinian student portrayed by Nicholas Jacob. As Nimer heads to Tel Aviv to meet his friend Mustafa N’amnais, played by Loai Nofi, at a lively gay bar, his life takes an unexpected turn. At this bar, he encounters Roy Scheffer, a Jewish lawyer brought to life by Michael Aloni. What begins as a friendship quickly blossoms into love; however, Nimer grapples with the complicated implications of their relationship amidst cultural and societal pressures.

The tension escalates when Nimer faces rejection from his own Palestinian community due to his sexual orientation, while at the same time the Israeli society he seeks acceptance from rejects him for his nationality. This painful duality deepens when Nimer discovers that his brother Nabil Mashrawi, played by Jamil Khoury, is involved in dangerous dealings, hiding a stash of weapons for his militant associates.

As Nimer secures a student visa to study at an Israeli university, he finds himself with more chances to see Roy. However, this joy is short-lived as he encounters the Israeli Secret Service, who threaten to revoke his visa unless he cooperates as an informant. Defiantly, Nimer refuses their demands, resulting in the cancellation of his visa. Meanwhile, Mustafa, living clandestinely in Tel Aviv under similar precarious circumstances, faces dire consequences when he can no longer supply information, leading to his forcible deportation back to the West Bank. Tragically, Nimer is forced to witness the brutal torture and execution of Mustafa for being both homosexual and an informant.

Further complicating his situation, Nabil and his associates discover Nimer’s photo on Mustafa’s phone. In an unexpected turn of events, Nabil allows Nimer to flee, sparing his life despite the overarching conflict. Nimer finds temporary refuge at Roy’s home, as the threat looms larger when Nabil’s weapons cache is uncovered, leading to his arrest and the authorities’ search for Nimer as a suspected accomplice.

As the danger closes in, Roy devises a plan to have Nimer smuggled to France through his connections with an underworld figure tied to his law firm. Despite promising to reunite in the future, Roy sacrifices his freedom, distracting the police to enable Nimer’s escape. Nimer makes it aboard a ship, setting sail towards an uncertain future, completely unaware of the fate that has befallen his beloved Roy.