From the outset, we knew the success of the film and credibility of the emotions would come down to selecting the right cast. The one-take edit left no room for errors, nor cutaways to skirt imperfections.

To find actors who could undertake such a nuanced performance, we skipped the casting reel and found our two heroes in the world of theatre.

Our search had to also account for the fact that the film was a regional copy and the look of actors had to be relatable across the Arab world.