As I Open My Eyes by Leila Bouzid

Tunis, summer of 2010. A few months before the revolution, Farah turns 18. She joins a politically-engaged band of musicians and discovers freedom and love against her mother Hayet’s will, who is more conscious of Tunisia and its taboos. The two women are opposed in a conflict. When Farah finally sets free, it is only to end up in the hands of the state police.

Leila Bouzid is a Tunisian born and raised filmmaker. She studied French literature at the University of Paris and film directing at La Fémis. Her shorts ‘Twitching’ (2011) and ‘Zakaria’ (2013) both won awards at the Festival Premiers Plans d’Angers. ‘As I Open My Eyes’ (2015) is her first feature, which premiered in Venice Days and won the Muhr Fiction Feature award at the Dubai International Film Festival.

This screening is organised in partnership with AFAC - The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture.

1h 40min | Arabic with English subtitles.