“Aïcha” explores life as a working-class woman in contemporary post-revolution Tunisia, a nation grappling with its fractured identity and deep-rooted social inequalities. Directed by Egyptian director Mehdi Barsaoui, the film centers on Aya Dhaoui (played by Fatma Sfar), a 30-year-old woman from a traditional village in southern Tunisia. Her story is of survival and self-reinvention, set against economic despair, patriarchal oppression, and a changing yet consistently oppressive society.
Tag Archives: Saudi Arabia
Venice 2024 Review: “Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo”
Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo,” the debut feature film by Egyptian director Khaled Mansour is a powerful exploration of fragile masculinity, class differences, societal pressures, and the search for self-redemption. set in a working-class neighborhood of Cairo, the film focuses on 30-year-old Hassan, who lives with his mother and his beloved dog, Rambo. Their lives are upended when their landlord, Karem, decides to evict them to expand his car repair workshop. Hassan’s mother takes legal action against Karem, sparking a chain of hostile encounters that culminate in a public humiliation for Karem: after a physical altercation, Rambo, the loyal dog, bites Karem in a particularly sensitive area, leading to further escalation and forcing Hassan into a difficult journey across Cairo to find a safe place for Rambo.
VIFF 2023 Review: “The Mother of All Lies”
© Insight Films “The Mother of All Lies” by Moroccan filmmaker Asmae El Moudir is a masterfully crafted, intimate, and personal experimental documentary. With a meticulous handmade set and figurines, El Moudir dives deep into her family’s history in the Casablanca neighborhood, seeking to heal past wounds and strengthen family bonds. This in-depth exploration ofContinue reading “VIFF 2023 Review: “The Mother of All Lies””
TIFF 2023 Review: “Hajjan”
With “Hajjan,” Egyptian director Abu Bakr Shawky offers a seemingly straightforward and conventional sports narrative about the high-stakes world of camel racing in Saudi Arabia, only to subvert subgenre expectations as the film progresses. Five years after his acclaimed debut at Cannes “Yomeddine,” Shawky delivers another thought-provoking feature film, this time focusing on the way the relationship between a boy and his beloved camel is tested by the society they live in.
Venice 2023 Review: “Behind the Mountains”
“Behind the Mountains” by Tunisian director Mohamed Ben Attia shows the filmmaker delving into daringly new territories, as he adds a fantastical element to the social realist style he was previously known for with his acclaimed films “Hedi” and “Dear Son.” This film is an emotional tale about a father-son relationship that interweaves elements of reality and fantasy to dissect the complexities of human relationships and escapism.
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