Two stories, at first separate, gradually interweave. And the combined narrative is truly nothing you’ve ever heard before. Mosab, the oldest son of a Hamas leader, and Gonen, a young Israeli secret service operative, were thrown together by circumstance but became partners in this shocking story of modern espionage. As a filmmaker, Schirman brings an arsenal of creative devices—including archival footage and re-creations—to illustrate this real-life thriller. But what he does best takes no bells or whistles—just understanding the emotional depths of the human face and the power of a good story. The Green Prince may owe a debt to The Imposter’s stranger-than-fiction narrative and The Gatekeepers expertly tense milieu, but as Schirman plumbs the souls of Mosab and Goran, he creates something truly unique. (DW)