Ultimatum (2009)
Directed by Alain Tasma

Film Synopsis

Luisa is an Italian student happily pursuing a course in ancient history at a university in Jerusalem.  She is romantically involved with Nathanaël, a French painter of about the same age - early twenties - who supplements his income by working as a watchman in East Jerusalem.  The couple's already fraught relationship is placed under further strain by the momentous events of the day.  It is the last day of the year in 1990.  The ultimatum that has been issued by the United Nations for Iraq to evacuate its troops from Kuwait is due to expire in just fifteen days.  If the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, does not comply with the terms of the ultimatum in full, an American-led coalition looks set to invade Kuwait.

If the invasion goes ahead, it seems likely that this will result in a wider conflict that may engulf the whole of the Middle East and precipitate a Third World War.  With enemies on all sides, not least Iraq, the entire population of Israel fears the worst.  They have been in Saddam's sights for some time and it seems likely that in the event of war he will launch an all-out attack on Israel with the chemical and biological weapons he has been stockpiling for years.  As the deadline comes ever nearer, tensions in Jerusalem continue to rise.  How are Luisa and Nathanaël to spend the few days that remain to them on the eve of the apocalypse that now looks like a dreadful certainty...