Junction 48 (2016)

Insightful and inspiring, this contemporary coming-of-age drama revolves around Kareem, a talented youngster, who leads an aimless life between odd jobs and hanging out with his buddies. He lives with his parents in a crime-ridden ghetto of the mixed Jewish-Arab city of Lyd, some 20 minutes from Tel Aviv. Most of his childhood friends have turned to selling drugs through 'ATMs', that are actually transaction holes in the walls of dilapidated buildings providing instant gratification for addicts.

Kareem‘s loving musician parents are constantly worrying about his life choices and they try hard to guide their son on the right path. Kareem is devastated when his father is killed in a car crash. The family tragedy brings him closer to his singer girlfriend, Manar, and motivates him to do something more with his life. Kareem and his group have been performing at small neighborhood gigs and family birthday parties. When they finally get a chance to perform in a Tel Aviv hip-hop club, Kareem‘s star potential is quickly noticed. The 'first Arab rapper' is asked to appear on a TV news program. As Kareem‘s talent develops, so does his political consciousness, and the group‘s lyrics become more defiant.

Although he raps 'I‘m not political,' Kareem and the group use music to express their tough life as Palestinian youth. But the road to success is never easy... Kareem and his group face a violent confrontation with nationalistic Jewish rappers. Their friend Talal, already mixed up with a dangerous drug lord, could lose his home because of government-imposed gentrification. Kareem‘s biggest blow could be not having Manar onstage with him for his most important gig yet. Her cousins threaten to harm them if she performs publicly with him, an act which they consider a disgrace to the family honor. The time has come for Kareem to either surrender to conservative tradition or stand up for the woman he loves, the artist he respects. What will Kareem and Manar choose to do – fight to live life on their own terms or succumb to pressure? What will the future hold in store for them?