Shooting has just wrapped on a film about a slew of racist attacks on the Muslim community in Germany. The director, Yigit (Serkan Kaya), is thrilled with his work, but there is tension among the majority-Muslim crew about the final scene in which a real Qu’ran is burnt. When the film reel mysteriously vanishes, suspicions abound.

Marketed as a thriller, Hysteria is a rather unusual example of its genre. Most of the tension comes from the attempts of assistant director Elif (Devrim Lingnau) to hide the fact that she’s lost the keys to Yigit’s apartment, allowing for the film’s theft. The stakes never feel particularly high, however, and events that run through the film are occasionally difficult to follow. 

Hysteria is still very worthwhile though. The central moral conflict, the burning of the Qu’ran and the questions it raises, is interesting, as almost every character is of Turkish descent with varying degrees of connection to Islam. They disagree not only on the burning but the entire existence of their film and its portrayal of the attacks. Hysteria recognises that the immigrant experience is not one-size-fits-all, nor does Islamophobia impact everyone in the same way. That’s what makes this so engaging despite the lack of genuine suspense. 

Hysteria, Cameo, 18 August, 4.15pm & 19 August, 9.15pm; Vue, 20 August, 6pm & 8.15pm.