Co-screenwriter (along with Joelle Touma) and director Ziad Doueiri tackles this adaptation of Yasmina Khadra’s novel about an Arab surgeon (Amin Jaafari) living in Tel Aviv who embarks on a perilous journey to learn the truth about his wife in the aftermath of a suicide bombing. With previous efforts (2004’s Lila Says and two episodes of the 2005 television series Sleeper Cell), Doueiri has been able to balance sensuality and topicality to create stirring exotic fare for adventurous viewers and it seems like The Attack will be yet another tantalizing treat for those tired of the same old American recipe for action that sacrifices intrigue as well as sense and sensibility. Now open at Esquire Theatre. (R) Not screened in time for review
