Golshifteh Farhani in ‘Arab Blues’ Photocall at 76th Venice festival

They first meet, amusingly, at a police roadblock. She is asked to pull over and take a breathalyser test for driving under the influence, but there is no pouch to blow into. Instead, she must breathe on to his face. “Budget cuts,” the cop shrugs, as she exhales her harissa sauce-smelling breath.