La source des femmes

In a North African village, the women has a mission. They fetch water from a source in the mountain, while the men have tea. It's desert heat, the barrels are heavy and miscarriages appear on the mountain. The men only care, if the child was a boy.

So the women start a sex strike. Sounds like a comedy, which it's also in some ways are. But at the same time, you here have a perfect opportunity to get rid of lots of prejudices. Passions, conflicts and longing are the same. Only the culture is different.

You find deep religiosity at the same time. This is certainly not mainstream, but entertaining in a deep way until the last drop of water.

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.

A brilliant, delicate, delicious & poetic movie. The music (composed by Armand Amar) is superb. Radu Mihaileanu knows to picture the tragedy with a big touch of love and hope. The movie denounces the injustices that live the majority of women in the Arab countries, with a touch of beauty and comedy. Radu Mihaileanu shows us that to change the reality without violence is still possible in this violence world. Another jewel from this amazing director who surprised us in the past with incredibly beautiful and powerful movies such as "Train the vie" (1998), "Va, vis et deviens" (2005) and "Le concert" (2009). Antonia Tejeda Barros (Madrid, Spain).

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.

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.