Hedi, amor y libertad

A story of a young man immersed in a society where feelings are repressed prioritizing tradition. A place to discover the authentic, means radical break with its future scheduled by his family. Least what it appears at a time, although the end is very open to personal interpretation of the viewer.

Outstanding performance of Omnia Ben Ghali, and a plot very well developed. A high quality film.

Part of the reason I decided to go see this film, is the country it is from. I can't remember ever having seen another film from Tunisia. This country is the birthplace of the Arab Spring, and at the same time the only country where this uprising has led to more democracy. Interesting enough, it seems.

But the movie is not about Tunisia. Its theme is universal. It could just as well have been set in Britain, China or Argentina. Only the empty tourist hotels where a large part of the film takes place, are an indication of the problems Tunisia is coping with now.

The movie really is about the universal dilemma of having to choose between chasing your dreams, or adapting to a life others expect you to lead. The 25-year old car salesman Hedi lives with his dominant mother who has arranged a marriage with a beautiful girl, partly because her father can get him a job closer to home. Hedi obediently participates in the preparations for the marriage, but doesn't seem to be very enthusiastic. When he meets another girl, the happy-go-lucky Rym, he decides to cancel the marriage, and make a living as an illustrator.

There is nothing wrong with the film, but I didn't very much enjoy it either. It's hard to say why. I think the reason is that it is hard to identify with Hedi. He is an unlikable character who is dull, timid, dishonest and lazy. He never shows his true emotions, cheats on his fiancée and spends time on the beach while his employer pays him to sell cars. All this is due to his dominant mother, but nevertheless I didn't like Hedi.

The best parts are the scenes where Hedi, after all, shows some emotions. There are two: the first one when he confronts his mother after his decision to cancel the marriage, and a second one at the very end. The end is rather surprising, and easily the best part of the film. It makes you leave the cinema with a frown on your forehead.

This is a film that raises far above most of the more or less 'overloaded' and quasi-spectacular films that 'occupies' the cinemas these days. From the very first shot this film take a firm grip on you, and you feel immediately that "you are in good hands", to quote Woody Allen. Even if the films theme is universal and quite often filmed, its timeless figure gets a deeper and more powerful shape in the context it's narrated. The actors are excellent, and the main character; Hedi, is brilliant and won the 'Silver bear' for best leading actor in Berlin recently.

In the beginning you might think 'whats wrong with him?' though he seems to be blocked or like a 'broken bulb'. But soon you understand why. 'Who am I, and what kind of life do I want to live?' Nobody, and especially not Hedis closest relatives, seems to be interested in what kind of answer he will come up with. 'Everything is fixed', 'the painting is already completed', or at least the most important parts of it... The excellent director and photographer reveals the kind of 'prison' Hedi is captured in- or entering freely - with many 'closeups' and you only rarely are 'released' by a blue sky or a sea. It may sound banal but it's not. It's not an easy thing to do, 'walking your way', neglecting all the expectations that others 'will lay on your shoulders'. Sometimes or at some places the obstacles, the stakes are higher...

Sometimes it's wonderful to see something different at the cinema than the usual types of movies. This movie is a good example in this way. The content of the film is generally enough; The adult son lives with an overprotected mother and is dominated by her. How to break out? How to grow up? How to make your own choices? The film raises many such questions, in an environment and setting that to me is unusual. That is in an arabic country.But there is no negative comment on my part. This makes the film absolutely extraordinary and confirms the thesis that such challenges are found everywhere. I liked the movie well, it's quite low-key in its form. The main actors are good and credible. What I'm thinking about this is: Why do not I see more of such movies? They deserve a larger audience.