Amin Palangi’s (Love Marriage in Kabul, Audience Award, SFF 2014) debut narrative feature is a sensual psychological drama in which an Iranian arrives in Australia to reunite with his lover. Arash (Osamah Sami, Ali’s Wedding, SFF 2017) defies his family’s wishes and travels from Iran to Australia. While he is ostensibly in Sydney to study, his main motivation is to be with the love of his life, Nazanin (Faezeh Alavi). Nazanin fails to fetch him at the airport as scheduled but all is forgiven when she whisks him away for a romantic weekend in a cabin in the country. But there are bemusing signs at the cabin that a jetlagged and confused Arash struggles with. The arrival of Nasser (Robert Rabiah), Nazanin’s academic supervisor, further elevates Arash’s paranoia, setting the scene for a showdown. Exploring themes of family duty, belonging and love, TENNESINE is a thoughtful drama with the taut energy of a thriller.