Las cuatro hijas

One of the finest movies of the year, Kaouther Ben Hania's "Four Daughters" offers an illuminating exposé into family dynamics and generational trauma within a radically repressive society. Following a single mother and her two youngest daughters re-enacting their childhood with stand-in actors portraying the mother (for whenever she is overwhelmed playing herself) and her two oldest daughters who eventually went on to join the Islamic State, the movie brilliantly navigates the trauma and the bitterness of their tragic past without ever appearing distasteful.

With one of Tunisia's most talented contemporary directors at the helm, Kaouther Ben Hania presents an expertly crafted documentary that stresses the importance of independence, education, and societal deradicalization.

This film has the worst intro I have ever seen. I couldn't stand it out, behind the scenes should be behind the scenes, why I had to watch all that crab that makes the viewer less interested and bored af! I couldn't watch the full film and closed it after 20 minutes. It's one of the worst (if not the worst) watch experiences I've been through!

Does it get better? I don't know and really I don't care. Maybe these types of films aren't for me, all I just saw is crab and horrible way of storytelling that doesn't suit my taste. I don't know why the director chose this annoying way it made me so uncomfortable!

Incrediby strange and powerful and emotional film. In a sense, it is a movie about film-making, since we see the actors and the real people the documentary is about interacting in the scenes, between the scenes, and in the research phase. I had moment of pure outbursts of laughter intertwined with moments of unease and even horror depicting the tragedy of olfa and her daughters relations and bleak life choices. The mother, played by the real woman the documentary is about, is an extremely complex, charismatic, violent, funny, overbearing, relatable character who steals every scene, even in the presence of professional actresses.

Filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania has created an interesting fictional documentary that remains powerful and emotional with strong themes explored, great conversations between the characters and actors and Hania's approach on the realism. Hania had previously made The Man Who Sold His Skin and Beauty and the Dogs which while they aren't perfect, they are ambitious Tunisian movies that are defiantly with a watch. Four Daughters might just be Hania's best work so far.

Hania's direction and approach on the film is perfect as she is able to balance out the setting and themes of the troubles of the Islamic system and it's consequences and affects on the characters. The themes of motherhood, violence, culture and memories are well-explored and the dialogue and commentaries were though-provoking and interesting to observe. Many of the actors that are portraying the characters for the documentary were interesting to observe as each actor brings out the best emotions and complexity of the character situations, setting and personalities without feeling out of place. They all had interesting things to say and many are really likable.

Many of the camerawork is pretty good, the color presentation is beautiful, and the conversations between the actors are well-done. There are some lines and moments that are still burned into my memory because of how well and powerful they were. There wasn't a single boring moment throughout as I was both meant with emotions of laughter, tears and slightly horrified due to the contexts it explored. Having won the L'Oeil d'or award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, I can see why.

Overall, it's definitely a bit different on the typical documentary approach but I absolutely loved how powerful and emotional the movie is.

You're probably reading this with the benefit of hindsight but as I am writing it in Feb 2024, I can't help but wonder what's going to happen at the Oscars. This should be a close one. 20 Days in Mariupol is a hard core documentary and really powerful one (I would say still in pole position for the golden bald guy) but Four Daughters is a wonderful film. It deserves at least just as much to win.

The way it's laid out, the structure, the perspective, even a healthy dose of suspense. Very insightful, very daring, brave, unforgiving. Its shortcomings are minimal and have to do with the style - I would have appreciated a stronger cinematic touch, slightly more careful camera work to compliment its originality. And perhaps more clarity here and there.

But other than that, wonderful.