US Premiere
As I Open My Eyes
Viewpoints
| France, Belgium, United Arab Emirates, Tunisia | 103 MINUTES | Arabic | English subtitlesDrama, Female Director(s), Music
Tradition butts up against progress in Leyla Bouzid’s debut feature As I Open My Eyes, a musically-charged French-Tunisian film that follows a young woman in a band as she navigates familial, cultural, and social ideals in contemporary Tunis. Her band—assembled of several friends and one more-than-a-friend—plays a blend of original music and covers at local bars, including men’s-only joints. For Farah (Baya Medhaffar), the young woman at the heart of the film, music transcends cultures and languages, and the lengthy musical interludes demonstrate a kind of escapism. But music too is wrapped up in the politics. As I Open My Eyes situates itself at the dawn of the Arab Spring in Tunisia, and Farah’s music addresses politics and issues in her home country.
—Frederic Boyer
Presented in partnership with Venice Days.
Cast & Credits
Directed by
Leyla Bouzid
Leyla Bouzid was born in Tunisa and attended La Fémis school for directing. She directed Soubresauts (Mkhobbi Fi Kobba) and the short Zakaria. These two short films received over a dozen awards. As I Open My Eyes is Leyla’s first feature film and premiered at Venice Days. It was awarded the Best European Film award. It has already received upwards of 25 awards from festivals including Toronto and Rottterdam. Read our interview with Bouzid here.
Director
Leyla Bouzid
Screenwriter
Leyla Bouzid & Marie-Sophie Chambon
Producer
Sandra Sa Fonseca, Imed Marzouk
Editor
Lilian Corbeille
Cinematographer
Sébastien Goepfert
Cast
Baya Medhaffer, Ghalia Benali, Montassar Ayari, Aymen Omrani, Lassaad Jamoussi, Deena Abdelwahed, Youssef Soltana, Marwen Soltana
Contacts
Print Source
Hannah Horner
Doc and Film International
Paris, 75003
Phone: +33 1 42 77 89 66
h.horner@docandfilm.com
Doc and Film International
Paris, 75003
Phone: +33 1 42 77 89 66
h.horner@docandfilm.com
US Sales Contact
Hannah Horner
Doc and Film International
Paris, 75003
Phone: +33 1 42 77 89 66
h.horner@docandfilm.com
Doc and Film International
Paris, 75003
Phone: +33 1 42 77 89 66
h.horner@docandfilm.com
Press Contact
International Sales Contact
Hannah Horner
Doc and Film International
Paris, 75003
Phone: +33 1 42 77 89 66
h.horner@docandfilm.com
Doc and Film International
Paris, 75003
Phone: +33 1 42 77 89 66
h.horner@docandfilm.com
* Rush Tickets available at venue except for
Beacon Theatre
Beacon Theatre
Rush will be offered when advanced tickets for a screening or event are no longer available at venues
other than Beacon Theatre.
The Rush system functions as a standby line that will form at the venue approximately one hour prior to scheduled start time. Admittance is based on availability and will begin roughly 10 minutes prior to program start time. Rush Tickets are the same price as advance tickets and are payable upon entry.
The Rush system functions as a standby line that will form at the venue approximately one hour prior to scheduled start time. Admittance is based on availability and will begin roughly 10 minutes prior to program start time. Rush Tickets are the same price as advance tickets and are payable upon entry.
