The Stranger, a drama directed by Gaya Jiji starring Zar Amir, Alexis Manenti and Amr Waked, will be available on VOD October 22, 2026. A fresh opportunity to discover this story about exile and rebuilding, which was released in cinemas on June 24, 2026.
The film follows Selma, a Syrian woman forced to flee her homeland, leaving behind her six-year-old son. Her husband has vanished in the regime’s prisons, and she arrives in Bordeaux, where she works illegally while pursuing asylum and trying to bring her child to France.
In this precarious situation, Selma meets Jérôme, a lawyer played by Alexis Manenti. Their relationship upends the fragile balance she’s trying to maintain—between the maze of administrative procedures, memories of her husband, and the ongoing separation from her son.
Zar Amir embodies Selma, while Amr Waked plays Iyad. Megan Northam and Grégoire Monsaingeon round out the cast of this Franco-Belgian drama written by Gaya Jiji and Sarah Angelini.
With this second feature after My Favorite Fabric, showcased in Un Certain Regard in 2018, Gaya Jiji tackles the intimate fallout of exile. Filmed in Bordeaux, the film traces not only Selma's administrative odyssey but also her relationship to desire, to motherhood, and to the possibility of starting over.
The Stranger should especially appeal to viewers who are drawn to contemporary migration narratives, the plight of women in exile, and dramas centered on personal journeys. The film will be available on VOD starting October 22, 2026.
To discover the rest of this month’s new releases, check out our guide to October’s VOD releases, our pick What to Watch Today on Streaming, and the action films and blockbusters to see in theaters.
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