Ghanem Zrelli

This film, which events happened between 1924 and 1934, portrays the struggle of three young Tunisian friends who became true myths in the Tunisian society: Mhamed Ali El Hammi, the founder of the first Tunisian trade union; Tahar Hadded, a rebellious freedom and Human Rights militant, pioneer of the Tunisian Family Code, who in his writings called the whole Muslim world to reform women status in the society; and Belgacem Chebbi who renewed poetry, questioned the poet’s role and commitment, and initiated new language patterns. All three witnessed a tragic fate in an atmosphere of general indifference.

Habib and his 15 year old son Ahmed from his previous marriage, are brought together by Habib’s worsening state of health. Habib’s political past during the dictatorship in Tunisia is dangerously affecting his present. The roles are reversed, Ahmed has to protect his father and try to keep him safe. Habib and Ahmed find themselves in a chaotic position that neither is prepared for.

A new cinematic vision puts the psychological and social disintegration of family relationships under the microscope. The decline of human feelings in front of the tyranny material force and the breakdown of family ties open the door to opportunism and greed in order to acquire more money, causing the killing of human feelings and turns members of one family to enemies.

Beginning of January 2011, during the Tunisian revolution, Mohamed, a political prisoner, escapes from jail and returns to his native town Thala. He finds it in the midst of a revolt. He has only one goal: to find his fiancée Hourya. Mohamed is helped in his flight by Belgacem a coalman and former agent of the regime who is hoping to be redeemed. He hides Mohamed in his garage. On the night of January 9th, Mohamed witnesses yet another slaughter. As he carries the dead body of a young man to hospital, a young protestor films him on his cell phone and the video is uploaded on Facebook. Meanwhile, we discover Hourya who lives with her husband, Adel, a quiet man who has accepted her past but forbids her of taking part in any political activity. Hourya who was raped in prison after Mohamed's arrest, believes that Mohamed has died under torture and to save her own life, she accepted to get married to Adel whom she does not love.

When Mariam, a young Tunisian woman, is raped by police officers after leaving a party, she is propelled into a harrowing night in which she must fight for her rights even though justice lies on the side of her tormentors.

In late 2013, Zina and Djo, both in their twenties, come back to Tunisia from the Syrian front where they were sequestrated and raped. Zina was separated from her two-month-old child and Djo finds out she's pregnant and plunges into mutism and expresses her Syrian horror only in the novel she is writing. Tunisian lawyer, Nadia and Dora, a humanitarian doctor, assist them in their hard and lengthy reconstruction; impeded by the violence of their close circles, the harsh view on the social networks and their angst. Nadia, also Driss' lawyer, a 21-year-old persecuted homosexual who's been banned from all school establishments, asks him to help Zina in the hopes that their stirring meeting will allow them to open their black boxes, to assume themselves and stand up to the unjust society.

While Mehdi is torn between his secret gay affair and the perspective of getting married, his sister Hind struggles to face her present and to reveal the secrets of her past kept in the dark.

In Tunis lives Aya, a smart little girl, with her Salafist parents. But one day a special event disrupts the life of this family.

Mohamed, a steelworker shattered by the death of his friend in a tragic accident, lives with a piece of rusted metal lodged in his head. As the rust spreads through his body, he rises against corruption, becoming a symbol of resistance and sacrifice.