Season 1 • Episode 12
LatestBased on the best-selling novel by the same name, "Asylum City" is set in the underworld of refugees and asylum seekers; those looking to help them and those who take advantage of their plight. A young social activist is found dead and the main suspect is an asylum seeker from Africa who was seen leaving her apartment. Police Officer Anat Sitton leads the murder investigation, unravelling a complex world of corrupt politicians, organized crime and illegal arms deals, putting her in the center of a dangerous and parallel universe with its own codes and morals.
Acting
Hani Furstenberg's restrained burnout as Anat anchors every scene.
Direction
Tel Aviv locations weaponized—glamorous surface, rotting foundations.
Writing
Refugee characters with full interior lives, not just plot devices.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Liad Shoham's novel, which sparked real debate in Israel about the 'infiltrator' narrative used for African refugees. The series deliberately cast Eritrean non-actors for authenticity.
Anat's interpreter role mirrors the show itself—translating between worlds she can never fully belong to, including her own police force. Her isolation intensifies across episodes 8-10.
IL
