Presented yesterday Sunday in preview in a press screening, the new feature film “Aïcha”, by Tunisian filmmaker Mehdi M.Barsaoui is a daring cinematographic work which explores the themes of justice and identity in a society in full economic and social change post-revolution. Competing in the official competition of the 35th edition of the Carthage Cinematographic Days (JCC, December 14-21, 2024), the film will be released nationally from December 22.
Lasting almost two hours, the film (fiction) follows “Aya”, a young woman employed as a cleaner in a hotel in Tozeur, in the south of the country. Aya dreams of changing her life and moving to Tunis, the capital, where her superior promises her a better future. But these promises turn out to be a trap intended to sexually exploit him. Deeply betrayed, she decides to flee this reality. The dramatic turning point comes when she is pronounced dead after a road accident. Aya takes advantage of this mistake to disappear and start a new life in Tunis under a new identity. However, the capital is far from being a haven of opportunities.
Aya faces new confrontations in an environment where loneliness, struggle and hope combine. The role of Aya is played by actress Fatma Sfar, in a casting alongside Nidhal Saadi, Yasmine Dimassi and Hela Ayed. In this backstory, the director relies on the element of suspense and carefully crafted shots illustrating the two universes – the one where she lived and the one to which she aspired – to make palpable the weight of the challenges facing the heroine. of the film is confronted.
Beyond the personal challenges of this woman determined to regain control of her life, the film delves into broader societal issues such as injustice, corruption…to conclude on a note of hope, marked by victory of justice and the rehabilitation of Aya. With “Aïcha”, Mehdi M.Barsaoui creates a poignant work where personal trajectories intertwine with collective issues, making individual wounds a striking reflection of the dysfunctions of society.
