Palestinian director Rakan Mayasi’s first feature film “Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep” is a raw and poetic critique of the nature of revenge. Set in the Bekaa Valley on the border between Lebanon and Syria, Yasser (Yasser Al Mawla) searches for his missing cousin Gamra. When an accident on his search gets him into trouble, his sisters Jawaher (Jawaher Al Mawla) and Rim (Rim Al Mawla) are sacrificed to keep peace between opposing tribes. “Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep” reveals the quiet pain, hidden pleasures, and ultimate sacrifices women endure for the sake of fleeting peace.

Many scenes stand out for their stylistic creativity. The film features, particularly a long slow motion sequence of community members dancing, laughing, and singing. Flashes of fire are accompanied by beating drums and the all-encompassing sound of celebratory music by Abed Kobeissy and Ted Regklis. This liveliness beautifully contrasts Jawaher and Rima’s sentiments as they experience an emotional death in losing each other to the tyranny of revenge.

All throughout, Mayasi and cinematographer Pôl Seif create striking, symbolic visuals that brilliantly capture the emotional weight of the film. In one moment, one of the sisters appears on screen before sitting down to reveal the other. Their clothes’ contrasting colors, the camera’s zoom-in to reveal their faces, and the crescendoing music beautifully juxtapose the intense yet quiet sadness the sisters experience. Seif also shoots a number of the movements in extreme wide shots. This choice is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also reveals just how vulnerable these characters are as they try to control what little they can of the world around them.

“Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep” is a masterclass in using technical creativity to pace a film. Using sound and cinematography to create contrast between events and images, some of the film’s most plot-driving moments are presented in silence. Focusing on a swinging car charm as chaos ensues in the streets around it, the cinematography demonstrates the cruel way the world moves on even as people experience their most tragic moments. There is rich irony in the stillness of the rest of the world during the family’s life-changing moments.

Real-life siblings Rim, Jawaher, and Yasser Al Mawla are captivating in their eponymous roles. Each gives impressive performances of silent strength and suppressed pain. Bearing the consequences of their circumstances, they succeed in moving audiences from beginning to end. Excelling in playful, intense, and subdued scenes, the siblings — particularly Rim and Jawaher — have an undeniable connection that seeps through the screen.

A thought provoking and stunning entry in Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard, “Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep” is a moving tale for stories untold. Finding beauty in the smallest moments between siblings, lovers, and friends, the film is a reminder of the oppression of hate and the gentle power of forgiveness.

—Staff writer Dzifa A. Ackuayi can be reached at [email protected].