Barataria

A quartet of refined elderly ladies gets together for coffee. Neatly dressed in houndstooth and pearls, they sip from elegant china and nibble on sweet cakes while discussing Viagra, cock rings, orgasms and quickies. Nothing's off the table as they reminisce about the past and revel in the sexual revolution that's come up around them, empowering their pleasure well into their twilight years.

Upon completing his service in the Israel Defense Forces, Kobi Zucker needed to get away from the pressures of the Middle East. With memories of his time there on his mind, he comes to New York City on his way to South America. While working to earn money for his trip, Kobi meets the girl of his dreams beautiful and intelligent Leila. But Leila is Palestinian, having come to New York from the West Bank with her family following the death of her oldest brother during the Intifada. Despite differences, Kobi and Leila fall in love. Meanwhile, Leila's only surviving brother, Ghazi, is having his own troubles adapting to life in his new country. Ghazi increasingly comes under the spell of a radical Muslim preacher. Ghazi now determined to prevent Leila from dishonoring her family while Leila struggles with her feelings for Kobi and her past. Can love overcome the ancient hatreds and unhealed wounds dividing Israelis and Palestinians?

Wasteland is a reflection on a reality far from the big cities – the everyday life of a few young people from Värmland, a province in Sweden. What does rural life mean to them? What is their passion? This is a glimpse into the life of a group of young adults and their lifestyle choices. A film that can also be seen as a political, non-ideological contribution to the debate on city versus countryside.