The Rendezvous (2016)

The Rendezvous: Directed by Amin Matalqa, Annemarie Jacir. With Stana Katic, Raza Jaffrey, Alfonso Bassave, Meg Cionni. A Jewish-American doctor and a Muslim State Department employee find themselves in the center of a conspiracy that could bring about the end of days. With time ticking away, they take on a mission to unravel the mystery and save the world.

“I was so blown away by this film. Iu0026#39;m quite picky when it comes to movies, but this one definitely failed to disappoint. So rarely have I encountered a film that has the ability to elicit such a wide range of emotions, most notably the ability to both laugh and cry within minutes. The humor laced through this film was so well done and gave it this beautiful lighthearted aspect that balanced perfectly with the weight of emotion certain scenes carried. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe setting of Jordan was gorgeous and had me tempted to look up plane tickets by the time the movie was over. I loved the glimpse into the country, the journeys through the desert and the city of Petra, that this film gave us, how it was such an integral piece of the story as a whole. Paired with the mesmerizing score, it was magic amidst the mystery and suspense. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe casting, in my opinion, was brilliant. I couldnu0026#39;t picture anyone playing these characters better than Stana Katic and Raza Jaffrey. It was so easy to root for them as a couple and to get sucked in by their chemistry. They bounce off of each other so well and their banter was fantastic, really bringing the romantic comedy aspect of this piece to life. On a more emotional note, each moment concerning Rachel and her brother squeezed at my heart. Kudos to Katic for portraying the distance and disconnect threaded through Rachelu0026#39;s love and affection for David so well. It struck a chord with me in a way no other form of entertainment has thus far and Iu0026#39;ve always believed any form of art that can do that is truly something special. And lastly, Alfonso Bassave and Meg Cionni deserve special mentions; their characters were especially interesting – odd, even – in the best way and I loved every second of their screen time. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOverall, every aspect of this film came together so effortlessly to fuel this unique and intriguing adventure of a plot. I have yet to read the book itu0026#39;s based on, but this film unquestionably made me a fan of the director, Amin Matalqa, and his work, which has a distinctive quality that shines here. u0026#39;The Rendezvousu0026#39; is the definition of refreshing, a true gem of a film, and all involved should be so proud of this one. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI hardly ever watch a movie twice, but this is one I can see myself returning to time and time again.”