The Agreement, a film about high-stakes direct talks between Serbia and Kosovo, shows how individuals operate within the giant apparatuses we’ve built to maintain order. The degree of access filmmakers had to the negotiations is astounding: Before talks begin, we see the deputy prime minister of Kosovo getting her hair primped, the political director of Serbia worrying if he looks trim enough, and the European Union negotiator considering, hilariously, which tie would set the mood best. The performance of politics goes beyond aesthetics, though—the audience has a front-row seat for the farce of making nice to mask simmering frustrations, the clash of egos, and ultimately, the fear of consequences from hardliners back home if the meeting bears fruit. At one point, the frustrated E.U. negotiator says, “We should agree on something; it doesn’t matter what.” But even agreeing is dangerous. Footage of the negotiators back in Kosovo, Serbia, and Belgium shows the impact of their verbal debate on the people they represent. Engaging, funny, and tightly edited (it clocks in at less than an hour), The Agreement is a standout.