Growing up, Maya has always found herself caught between the Western culture of her mom and Middle Eastern background of her dad. As she continues forming her own identity, she takes for granted the rich heritage of her Lebanese family, and wishes only to disregard it. Her father sees this contempt during a summer visit to Lebanon, and regretfully allows for Maya to return home to Canada early, hoping that she will come to accept her family on her own. Only when war breaks out in the country and leaves her father stranded, does Maya realize it may be too late to reconcile with the dad she was once so close with. Across the Water is a true story about one girl’s experience during the 2006 Lebanon war. It is an intimate picture of growing up and friction between families, specifically those with a multicultural heritage. Growing up means growing apart, but at what cost?