Set in a mixed-ethnic, working-class neighbourhood of Haifa called Halisa, this deeply felt Israeli drama centers on Sarah (played by Noa Koler), a 40-something nurse at the local children’s health clinic whose greatest wish – becoming a mother – has so far eluded her. At the same time, she forms a tentative, compassionate bond with Anya, a young mother grappling with her own struggles.

Written and directed by Sophie Artus, the film weaves the very private terrain of infertility and desire into the wider social terrain of class, identity and belonging. In Halisa, the place and the people are inseparable — the film uses the neighbourhood’s daily rhythms (the clinic, the street, the apartment) as both setting and metaphor. Sarah’s longing becomes the lens through which we see how the community lives, hopes, struggles and cares. The result is a portrait of motherhood and sacrifice that feels both intimate and urgent.

Already garnering major recognition, Halisa is the winner of the Jury Prize – Best Film in the Israeli Feature Film Competition at the 2024 Haifa International Film Festival and was honoured with five nominations at the 2024 Israeli Film Academy (Ophir) Awards including Best Film, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.