With the film “Amal, a free spirit”, Belgian filmmaker Jawad Rhalib features a Brussels teacher of Moroccan origin who fights Islamist propaganda in her establishment. Released in 2023, it was chosen by La Sauce du Casino which warns spectators: “Be careful, highly flammable material!”.
It is a shocking film which directly tackles the subject of fundamentalism in the world of education. As a slayer of all rejections, of all intolerances, the main character of the film, Amal, a Belgian literature teacher, joins in resistance against the multiplication of harassment linked to religious fundamentalism. Director Jawad Rhalib, also Belgian-Moroccan, gives us a courageous film of formidable effectiveness, the staging is on point and literally absorbs the viewer into this high school class that has become an infernal machine. The actors, including the supporting roles, are astonishingly truthful. Special mention for Lubna Azabal who is masterful in this role as a convinced defender of secular and civic education. “If we don’t do anything, it will get worse…”, explains Amal at meetings of teachers who are more inclined to the “no waves” strategy. This is the whole question posed by this film, the theme of the radicalization of minds is a major subject for the serenity of our living together. The subject is taboo for some, radical political vector for others. La Sauce du Casino concludes its column with these words: “It is time to courageously open the debate. In this matter, this audacious film proves particularly necessary!”
