La source des femmes

I don't know what I'm voting on. Lysistrada by Aristophenes was much wittier, but the point of this movie is not wit.

Perhaps I'm voting on the wonder that it was made at all. We in the west have a very different view of what Muslim countries should produce given our media.

This film does not fit into that category. None that I've seen do. None proclaim death to the west. None want to commit murder in the hope of getting multiple virgins as a reward.

None do anything but examine daily life. What was set in Toronto Canada. A second was set in the middle east on the Israeli Lebonon border, a third was made in New York and now this one from North Africa. All of them were gentle films that made comments about the human condition.

And all including this one were well worth seeing. The film is a little long and the music is an acquired taste, but be patient. It will reward a patient viewer.

Beautiful film screening, the actors' performances were genuine, real and beautiful. the movie conveys a message that is going in the whole middle east and north africa, the reality that blends traditional ideas and connection, with the demand of democracy, equal rights and a rebellion on parts of this same tradition, love, rebellion, attachment to the homeland, and the detachment at the same time, all was beautifully expressed in this story, in a funny, interacting way. Recommended :)

The Source is an excellent Arabic movie about the social modernization of the Maghreb back country, that westerners can easily associate with.

The good. Powerful subjects. Extremely compelling story, touching and full of emotions. Tightly built scenario. Nice B and C stories. Very realistic characters. Actual setting, nothing fake.

The bad. Nothing.

The ugly. Nothing.

The result. Many can enjoy this flick, but highly recommended to anyone who like social justice, grass root non-violent movements, or tales set in a simple village. Not recommended to those who like slick movies.

Maybe the problem was to read about the movie before watching it. But I really was disappointed. I admit that my expectations were high. I found the story too linear. The kind of movie that you know how it ends at the first 15 minutes. The subject is interesting. If it was treated with more creativity, would be a less boring movie. I think when you are making a movie and thinking about how to teach people from a different culture how to think, is not an easy task. But still it is a good attempt to bring to the screen this kind of subject, at least people will talk about it. I do not know how accurately what he shows in this movie reflects the reality on those countries, but I hope people from those countries take the example that the movie give to them.

The sing-song politics of North Africa was beautifully used to express the position of the rebel women. They dressed up in their traditional outfits, danced and sang to let their men "have it" about not getting it. I loved this soulful picture, with no cars, no electricity and completely ethnic village surroundings. It was hilarious when, half-way through, the senior character was seen riding her mule (with a foal in the basket) and talking on a mobile phone in the middle of the desert. There was also a mobile phone in the yard of Leila's house, but it only worked in one place, and hung on a line with nobody allowed to move it. Top marks to this team for their writing, directing and acting, combining to make a powerful and yet charming film. I hope I get to see his next work.