Director : Raja Amari | Starring : Haim Abbas, Maher Kamoun | Country : Tunisia\France : | Genre : Drama | Language : Arabic | Year : 2002
With absolutely no back ground score, Satin Rouge is almost like the same making of Blue is the warmest color. Released in 2002, some ten year before Blue, is directed by Raja Amiri, who is from Tunisia. Abdullatif, director of Blue is also a Tunisian, does it answer the similar style of making or is it a French connection. Saton Rouge is made by France & Tunisia productions.
Plot
Lilia ( Haim Abbas ), a widower in a conservative family is living with her daughter, Salma (Hend El Fahem). Lilia, always keeps an eye on her teenage daughter, so that she doesn't go beyond her reach. The opening scene gives us the hint of Lilia dancing abilities as she dances before the mirror admiring her movements while doing the house chores.
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| Lilia ( Haim Abbas ) |
One night, when her daughter fails to return from party, In search of Salma, Lilia walks into a club and befriends a cabaret dancer Folla (Monia Hichri). Lilia, again goes back to the club, but this time intentionally. By seeing her natural dancing charm, Folla persuades Lilia to take cabaret dancing; reluctant Lilia starts to perform in the club, but without her daughter and conservative neighbor’ knowledge. Did the secret got open is the story. ?
My Take
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| The Director |
Going by the name I thought the director is a guy, but it turned out to be women. When I say cabaret, it's not what we see in old Indian films or as we know generally. It's belly dancing, which is widely popular in the Arab countries.
The story revolves around a small group. At one stage, it becomes a love-triangle, I won't say it shocked me, but then it surprised me as I thought "ahhh.... this can happen in the Arab culture too ?". Without knowing the Tunisian culture thoroughly it is wrong to compare it with some Arab countries which imposes strict laws for women. May be I was surprised cause I watched this film with that "strict law” mindset.
The dancing's are some 20 - 25 minutes of the screen time, so even though there is no background score, the music in the dancing fills the void.
I think feminism is the central theme of this film, which is universal. Although the later part of the film deviates from this central theme by a love-triangle, it just circles back and ends in emphasizing it.
Trailer
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