“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: Tunisia
Berlinale 2024 Review: “Who Do I Belong To”
Following her 2018 Oscar-nominated short “Brotherhood,” Meryam Joobeur’s debut narrative feature, ‘Who Do I Belong To,’ is a sensitive and emotionally charged examination of a Tunisian family torn apart by radicalization. Through a lens that is both intimate and deeply affecting, Joobeur explores the limits of a mother’s love, faced with the harrowing realities of her son’s actions. Amplified by Joobeur’s strong directorial decisions the film delivers a narrative that’s deeply embedded in the complexities of familial bonds and the pain of disillusionment.
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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