Carthage Film Festival, Tunis, November 11th - 18th

[Al-khiyal]

The 40th Carthage Film Festival will be held November 11th-18th in Tunis under the slogan "Cultural Diversity". The event will feature more than 300 Arab, African, European, American, and Asian movies. Competition categories include long feature films, short films, a "panorama" section, an "information" section designed for video features, and an "international" section.

The jury includes Elie Khouri (Lebanon), Ramsis Marzouk (Egypt), Mohamed Asli (Morocco), Regina Fanta Nacro (Burkina Faso), Serge Sobczynki (France), Rokhaya Niang (Senegal ), and Hend Sabri (Tunisia).

APS reported that Algeria will be represented by feature-length films "Barakat!" by Djamila Sahraoui and "Bled Number One" by Rabah Ameur Zaimèche, as well as short film "La Pelote de lain" by Fatma Zohra Zamzoum.

Carthage Film Festival to start November 11th

[Al-khiyal]

The 21st Carthage Cinema Days was characterised by several films taking a serious look at religious extremism. Some of the films boldly criticise Arab society for Muslim extremism and call for dialogue with "the other".

"I'd be surprised if the films showcased during this round didn't address the issue of religious extremism and the rise in hatred and killing, for the artist is a witness of his time and must interact with events taking place around him," cinema and theatre critic Mohamed Kouka told Magharebia.

"I don't regard dealing with the issue of religious extremism as falling within the context of a fashion, for it isn't that. The bloody absurdity we've been living in for years places responsibility on us as creators to counter it using our creative means. I believe there are effective means that reach all social stratums of the wide populace," he added.

"Akhar Film" (Last Film) by Nouri Bouzeid criticises Arab societies' inability to resolve religious extremism. The theme is expressed through the tragic end for the film's protagonist Bahta, which means "stray" or "lost" in Tunisian dialect.

After Bahta fails in his relationship with his father and grandfather, he uses his savings to illegally immigrate to Europe, where he becomes involved with a religious extremist group. He then blows himself up in the middle of a port outside of Tunis without anyone being killed.

The director emphasised that the character met a tragic end, though he is not convinced by ideas presented to him. He even slapped one of the sheikhs who prodded him to commit suicide.

"The film wasn't philosophical in proposing the scenario, but rather the writing, through which Nouri Bouzeid created outstanding results, took Tunisian society, as lived by thousands of youths within their families, their social and emotional relationships and their future prospects, as its starting point," Tunisian critic Su'ad Sadiqi wrote in newspaper Al-Huria Al-Yomi.

Before the screening, Bouzeid told viewers, "It's an upsetting film, especially to those with stagnant minds."

"Bab Aziz" (Mighty Door) by Tunisian director Nasser Khamir called for dealing with Muslims' relations with "the other" and listening to those with different customs, traditions and religions.

"My film is but a modest attempt to bring out the true face of Islam. I don't view any other subject as being more important. Today, it's necessary to present the other face of Islam, otherwise all of us will lose our protection because of indifference to the 'other'. Indeed, fear is what threatens everyone, not the truth," Khamir said.

"Barakat!" by Algerian director Jamila Sahrawi took viewers back to the years of Algerian extremist groups. Through protagonist Leila, who is married to a journalist detained by extremists, viewers see the suffering of relatives of abducted women and men.

Religious extremism a common theme at Carthage Cinema Days