The Stopover

A group of soldiers on tour in Afghanistan, is sent to Cyprus for a few days to “destress” at a five-star hotel. For the two female soldiers at the heart of the film, putting the horrors of warzone life behind is easier said than done. This is the point of departure for the film by French sisters and filmmakers, Delphine and Muriel Coulin’s (Samba), winner of the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard Best Screenplay Award. The film excels both at setting up absurd scenarios and in defining its protagonists, two strong women in a tough male environment, played by the wonderful Ariane Labed (The Lobster) and Soko (Augustine) whose role in the film’s success has been instrumental.