Uma Canção de Amor

I saw this last month at the 2009 Palm Springs International film Festival. This is the second feature film of writer/director/actress Karin Albou who received critical acclaim for her debut film La Petite Jersalem. As as writer and director Albou seems to have a promising career ahead of her as she knows how to put a film together and get the best out of her cast including herself as an actress as she plays the role of Myriam's stern but loving, smart and hard working mother Tita. The film is set in 1942 in German occupied Tunisia as the German's are vying for the support of the Muslim population to be their allies in the promise of independence for Tunisia. 16 year old Nour (Olympe Borval) is a Muslim engaged to her cousin Khaled (Najib Oudghiri). Nour's best friend since their earliest childhood is Myriam (Lizzie Brouchere). Myriam is Jewish and the German occupation has brought understandably hard times and tension for the Jewish Tunisian population. Myriam longs for the love that her friend Nour sees in Khaled but Myriam is betrothed to a wealthy and much older Doctor Raoul (Simon Abkarian) who is being forced to work in sympathy to the Nazi occupation. Photographed by cinematographer Laurent Brunet this is a good film but despite the war setting there is not a lot of war action and the film centers around the relationship of Myriam and Nour and this could be categorized as a chick flick. I liked it though and would give it a 7.5 out of 10 and recommend it.

Outstanding movie! Historical accurate - outstanding acting performances! Lizzie Brocheré succeeded in a convincing way, her efforts must have been tremendously exhausting but they bluntly payed off, the actress merits plenty of awards. Olympe Borval performs as the best actresses do. Simon Abkarian impersonates his character with a dept seldom seen on the screen. The script is well written, and one has the impression that it is well researched up to an academic level. Even if one does not like war movies he or she will be more then surprised about the films touch for human experiences and underlying anthropological - sociological study.

During WWII, the lifelong friendship between two young women (one Muslim, one Jewish) in Tunisia is tested when the Nazis take over the country. This is a good-looking film with fine performances from Brochere and Boval as the two women, although the characters are not very well developed. While generally engaging, it fails to be compelling, particularly for those not invested in the cultures portrayed here. It also doesn't offer any new insights about the religious themes it explores. It is sensitively directed by Albou, who also plays the mother of one of the young women. There are some surprisingly frank scenes depicting the grooming of Brochere for her wedding night.

From the synopsis alone, The Wedding Song seems like a gut wrenching watch, that's what I thought at least. However Karin Albou has a good hand at crafting narratives without reverting to any cheap tropes to solely evoke emotion. Not that there isn't enough here to get all riled up about, it's just never done for the sake of sensationalism.

The story is laden with serious themes and undertones... race, religion, class, patriarchy, sexual rights - you name it and it's here. Yet the story is completely character driven, focusing wholly on the two girls and their struggles through the social and economical hardships which have been bestowed upon them.

Lizzie Brocheré and Olympe Borval steal every scene, their endearing friendship feels authentic and their suffering just makes you want to reach out a hand to help.

Although I didn't feel quite satisfied by the end credits, I was certainly engrossed in every scene and emersed in this story of far away and long ago.

I may make it sound more contemporary than it is ... or maybe it just is? So no pun intended - the main characters (female) have their issues ... mostly about surviving, but also trying to better their lives. Not easy - even less so while being occupied, war looming and being controlled to say the least. Will they be able to achieve what they dream of? Not just physically that is - but also.

There is quite a fair amount of nudity. And I am just pointing that out for those who may have an issue with that ... or to those who will cherish it. Though if you are of the latter ... I assume there are other movies for you to watch. Still do not be too sensitive - and be for women and their rights ... might be a bit much to ask I reckon for some ... but let's stay with movies for now.