Hugo Weaving plays Dan, a war photographer who, on a rare trip home to Sydney, encounters a South Sudanese refugee named Sebastian (Andrew Luri, in an outstanding acting debut). The men become unlikely friends over tangentially shared experiences, and share a guarded hope for the future despite each man carrying the psychological burden of what he has seen and experienced. While Sebastian’s home life is centered on the imminent birth of his first child, the photographer grapples with a more uneasy domestic life. When a photograph for Dan’s upcoming gallery show appears that might mean more than it seems, Dan and Sebastian face urgent questions of trust, with no positive outcome in sight. Director Ben Lawrence’s compelling and accomplished narrative feature debut has earned deserved plaudits globally for its unforgettable performances and a morally complex and timely story.

In competition for the New Voices New Visions Award