Sands 25: Two Strangers Trying Not To Kill Each Other (15) - Pay What You Can: £12, £10, £8

Introduction and Q&A with Manon Ouimet (Co-director/Producer)

James Paumgarten* on why you should see Two Strangers Trying Not To Kill Each Other at Sands 25:

A couple, renowned photographer Joel Meyerowitz and novelist Maggie Barrett, confront the challenges of ageing with the one you love. As they reflect on their lives and careers, navigate injury, and come to terms with the constraints of old age, the value and beauty of conflict and compromise are revealed.

In their deeply personal debut documentary, Manon Ouimet and Jacob Perlmutter (themselves a couple) create intimate portraits of Maggie and Joel as individuals and as one. The gravity of mortality is perfectly balanced by lighthearted banter and comforting human connection. Breathtaking cinematography, a score partially composed and performed by Maggie herself, and stunning landscapes from Tuscany to New York City to Cornwall emphasize that underneath life's complexities lie an unwavering serenity rooted in those we love and the places where we grow.

Dir: Manon Ouimet, Jacob Perlmutter | 2024 I UK/Denmark/USA | 1h 40m

Contains strong language
For additional content advice, which may contain spoilers, visit the BBFC website

*Sands films are selected by our Festival Director, Ania Trzebiatowska (who is also a feature film programmer for the Sundance Film Festival), in collaboration with a hand picked group of Student Curators from the University of St Andrews Department (which was ranked first in the UK for Media and Film Studies by The Guardian Good University Guide 2025.)