“Two People Exchanging Saliva” + “Budget Paradise” + “1:10”

In a dystopian society where kissing means death and currency is measured in slaps, a woman’s growing bond with a salesgirl sparks desire, jealousy, and dangerous consequences. Vicky Krieps narrates this bold and absurdist tragicomedy that stars Zar Amir Ebrahimi (Holy Spider) as unhappily married Angine. When she becomes infatuated with naïve young Malaise (Luana Bajrami, Portrait of a Lady on Fire), their secret connection grows into a dangerous romance that tests the limits of their repression-fueled world. Shot mostly in striking black-and-white, the film creates an atmosphere both surreal and chilling, reflecting a culture that polices intimacy while encouraging violent exchanges. As the duo’s bond raises suspicions, Two People Exchanging Saliva becomes a sharp critique of control, desire, and resistance, balancing its bleak premise with moments of dark humor and unexpected tenderness. —Amir George