In-Depth Reviews of Furies and Re/Pair at TIFF 2026
Furies and Re/Pair at TIFF 2026: A Detailed Review of a Lebanese Heist Thriller and a Documentary on Black-Jewish Relations
Two distinct films, “Furies” and “Re/Pair”, were reviewed at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2026. This article provides an in-depth analysis of both productions, based on a review from RogerEbert.com. “Furies” is a Lebanese heist drama about two sisters attempting to reclaim their own money from a collapsed banking system, while “Re/Pair” is a documentary directed by Lacey Schwartz Delgado that pairs Black and Jewish individuals in conversation to explore the ties and divides between their communities.
Key Facts
This section presents the core factual data for both films as detailed in the source review.
AttributeValue (Furies)Value (Re/Pair)
Film TitleFuriesRe/Pair DirectorRami KodeihLacey Schwartz Delgado GenreHeist DramaDocumentary Core Setting/SubjectLebanon in 2022, three years after the 2019 banking system collapse.Conversations between Black and Jewish people in the 2020s. Main Cast/ParticipantsMaria Nakouzi (Dalia), Rym Mroue (Maro), Hadi Bou Ayash (Concierge), Issam Bou Khaled (Sunshine), Hasan Akil (Hamza).W. Kamau Bell, Van Jones, David Schwimmer, Matisyahu, Rhymefest, Ashley Jackson, and Robert Klein among 38 people paired in 19 conversations. Total RuntimeOver two hours.Not specified in source material. PremiseTwo sisters plan a heist to retrieve funds to pay for a cancer treatment, breaking into a bank vault through a shared wall.A documentary series of dialogues about stigma, history, and personal revelation between Black and Jewish communities.
What Is the Core Premise of the Film “Furies”?
“Furies” is a Lebanese heist drama directed by Rami Kodeih that follows two sisters, Dalia and Maro, in 2022 as they fight to retrieve their own money from banks that collapsed in 2019. The film is described as a thriller that centers on a heist not to steal someone else’s money, but to reclaim their own funds to save Dalia from uterine cancer.
“It’s got incredibly strong visual language that works to amplify the tension of a story that never stops moving. Director Rami Kodeih has made a movie that’s a clever inverse of the standard heist formula in that it’s not about taking someone else’s money; it’s about getting your own back.”Source: RogerEbert.com Review
The narrative is set against a backdrop of national crisis. The source material notes, “In 2019, the banking system in Lebanon collapsed, which meant that people couldn’t get their own money, funds they earned to put a roof over their heads and food on their tables.” The film’s tension is intensified by the personal stakes for Dalia, who has been diagnosed with uterine cancer she cannot afford to treat. The heist, which involves breaking through a wall shared with a bank vault, is orchestrated with the help of a concierge and two other men, Sunshine and Hamza. The film is a two-hour thriller that uses a ticking clock—not of a bomb, but of a cancer growing—to drive its narrative forward.
Who Is the Director of “Furies,” and What Was His Intent?
Rami Kodeih is the director of “Furies.” His intent, based on the review, was to craft a confident and riveting thriller that uses the real-world financial collapse in Lebanon as a setting to tell a story of people fighting back against a broken system. His approach emphasizes a strong, restless visual language that amplifies the tension of the story.
The review credits Kodeih with creating a film where the heist mechanics are “fun” and where each character feels distinct. For example, he stages a sequence where the two male characters stage a fight in the street to distract from the sound of breaking a wall. The director’s style is noted for its energy: “It helps a great deal that Kodeih and his team find a sweaty, shaky visual language to the film. Even in conversations, the camera is always slightly moving, as if it’s too restless to stay still. It’s too furious.” Kodeih’s intent was to create a heist film that feels like a direct response to a national economic tragedy, using the genre to address the issue of people being locked out of their own life savings.
What Is the Subject of the Documentary “Re/Pair”?
“Re/Pair” is a documentary directed by Lacey Schwartz Delgado that documents conversations between Black and Jewish people about the connections, divides, and history between their communities. The film pairs 38 people across 19 separate conversations to discuss topics ranging from history and politics to music and personal experiences.
The review describes the film’s concept as engaging and notes that it addresses complex and tough subjects such as the wake of events in Gaza, responses to BLM, and figures like Kanye West. The documentary features notable participants including W. Kamau Bell, Van Jones, David Schwimmer, Matisyahu, Rhymefest, Ashley Jackson, and Robert Klein. It is characterized not as a “let’s all get along” piece, but as a call to question the impact of division. “Re/Pair” is a documentary that explores the complex, often difficult, relationships between Black and Jewish communities through paired dialogues, aiming to spark conversation where these dialogues are treated as starting points rather than conclusions.
Who Is This For?
This duo of reviews is intended for audiences with diverse interests. “Furies” is ideal for viewers who appreciate high-tension international thrillers with a strong visual style and social commentary, particularly those interested in stories that draw from real-world economic crises. “Re/Pair” is best suited for audiences interested in social documentaries, cross-cultural dialogue, and films that tackle historical and contemporary issues from multiple personal perspectives. The review suggests that while “Re/Pair”’s subject is dense, it will resonate with those curious about how personal storytelling can address broad societal divides.
How Does “Re/Pair” Approach Its Subject Matter?
“Re/Pair” approaches its subject by pairing individuals for conversations, allowing for personal, honest, and sometimes conflicting viewpoints. The review notes that the film’s effectiveness varies by pairing, but overall, participants speak personally about stigma and history. It does not avoid conflict, yet ultimately the review states it “feels a little afraid to really break the skin.”
The film’s method is to present dialogues as a starting point for exploration, not as a source of definitive answers. For instance, the review highlights a moment where Matisyahu explains his attraction to Bob Marley’s music because of shared words like “exodus.” While the film allows for criticism, such as a chapter on attacks on DEI by Jewish writers, it stops short of preaching unity or forgiveness. Instead of providing simple solutions, “Re/Pair” is a documentary that functions as a call to question the impact of what it means when communities do not engage with each other’s histories and complexities.
Who Are the Key Figures in the “Furies” Cast?
The key figures in “Furies” are the two sisters and their co-conspirators. Maria Nakouzi plays Dalia, who is diagnosed with uterine cancer. Rym Mroue plays her sister Maro, who lives in rage over their situation. Supporting the sisters are Hadi Bou Ayash as a concierge who shares a wall with the bank’s vault hallway, and Issam Bou Khaled and Hasan Akil as Sunshine and Hamza, the other members of the heist team.
The review specifically praises the cast, saying, “a mesmerizing Rym Mroue” plays Maro, and that “to the film’s credit, all four characters feel distinct and genuine, never getting lost in the heist machinations, but it’s the perfectly sisters you’ll remember.” This indicates that while the ensemble is strong, the relationship between the two sisters is the emotional core of the film. The cast of “Furies” is anchored by Maria Nakouzi and Rym Mroue as sisters who are fighting to save Dalia’s life, supported by a distinct group of heist collaborators who are all drawn into their plan.
Common Questions
What is the main conflict in the film “Furies”?
The main conflict is two sisters fighting to access their own money from a collapsed Lebanese banking system to pay for one sister’s cancer treatment. They are forced to plan a heist because the bank refuses to return their funds, turning a financial crisis into a personal, life-or-death thriller.
Who is the director of “Re/Pair” and what is its primary goal?
Lacey Schwartz Delgado directed “Re/Pair.” Its primary goal is to create a space for conversations between Black and Jewish people. The film pairs 38 individuals across 19 conversations to discuss ties, divides, and personal histories, acting as a call to question the impact of division rather than presenting a unified conclusion.
What does the review say about the effectiveness of “Re/Pair”?
The review says the film’s effectiveness is mixed, as some pairings are more compelling than others. However, it notes that most participants are engaged and honest, and the film is at its best when conversations are most personal. It ultimately feels, to the reviewer, that the film stops short of deeply critical examination.
Sources and Methodology
This article is based exclusively on a single review published by RogerEbert.com. The original source material is a review of two films screened at TIFF 2026, titled “In-Depth Reviews of Furies and Re/Pair at TIFF 2026.” All facts, quotes, and descriptions have been directly sourced from the provided text. No other external sources, statistics, or comparative data were used. The names of directors, actors, participants, and organizations are preserved as they appear in the source material. This article was last updated on June 18, 2026.
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