From Nadine (31, USA)
Traveling and cinema:
Even the biggest fan of travel knows there are more ways to discover other cultures than simply jumping on an airplane. One way I’ve found to explore new cultures or to keep a connection to a place I’ve visited is through the power of cinema. Well, yes, I don’t understand Tunisian Arabic or French, but going to the cinema in Cite de la Culture in Tunis was still high on my list as a way to see this culture through a filmmaker’s lens.
Cycling to the cinema:
I biked just over six kilometers from Nomadic Bike Bardo to be transported via movie magic to “Oura el Jebel” (“Behind the Mountains”) at La Cinémathèque de Tunis, part of the Cité de la Culture building. The film, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 2023, was written and directed by Mohamed Ben Attia. The dialogue was in Tunisian Arabic, with French subtitles, so I pieced together the plot with the help of a one-sentence summary I’d found online: “After spending four years in jail, Rafik has only one plan, take his son behind the mountains and show him his amazing discovery.”
Discovering Tunisian Cinema:
That amazing discovery? Oh, that he can fly. Part magical dream, part road-trip thriller, this was a beautiful movie about the power of belief and stepping out of the boxes we think we should stay within. Besides the intricate relationships depicted on-screen, the cinematography showcased the vast beauty of the Tunisian countryside, including the green mountains of the northwest.
That greenery may come as a surprise to someone who only knows Tunisia from “Star Wars.” Yes, it’s true, George Lucas was inspired by the landscape and architecture of the Saharan south (the city of Tataouine becoming “Tatooine”) and he filmed parts of both “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark” here. Scenes from “The English Patient” were also filmed in south Tunisia.
But the homegrown film industry is strong and storied as well. Following the end of French colonialism in 1956, local filmmakers began to make themselves known. In recent years, Tunisian cinema has been seen on a more global scale, with 2013’s “Blue is the Warmest Color” (from director Abdellatif Kechiche) winning the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Just this year, Kaouther Ben Tania’s film “Four Daughters” was nominated for an Oscar, in the category of Best Documentary Feature. She is the first Arab woman to earn two Academy Award nominations.
In addition, since 1966, Tunisia has hosted Africa’s oldest film festival, the Carthage Film Festival (Journées Cinématographiques de Carthage), giving priority to Arab and African movies. The festival takes place at the Cité de la Culture in Tunis, and thus is easily accessible by bike when the next edition rolls around.
Cycling back to Bardo:
Cycling back to Bardo from cite de la culture after “Behind the Mountains” finished, I enjoyed mulling over what I could understand from the movie while weaving in my own interpretations. It reminded me of my experiences watching local films in India and Italy, and it was a pleasure to continue this tradition in Tunis.
FURTHER DETAILS
Cycle from Nomadic Bike: 6.5 kilometers
