The Tunisian film Fatma directed and scripted by Khaled Ghorbal, has evoked a great deal of controversy in Tunisia, as it discuses one of the Arab society taboos, namely girls’ virginity, according to the daily al Hayat.
The film was screened at the opening ceremony of the 23rd Nantes Festival of Three Continents in France. It was also screened at the latest Cannes film festival, granting it major recognition in the cinema world.
A fictionalized depiction of women's position in contemporary Tunisia, Fatma balances some harrowing material with a challenging, refreshing view of more liberated Arab attitudes to female sexuality.
Raped by her cousin at 17, Fatma (played by Awatef Jendoubi) conceals the incident and her pain, but struggles with the fear of men which the attack leaves her with. She goes to college in Tunis, and subsequently becomes a teacher in a tiny village, where she meets and falls in love with a young doctor. She agrees to marry him, but faces a difficult decision about whether to conceal her earlier experience.
Fatma's story, and those of her friends, show the tension between the pull of traditional expectations versus more modern ideas of freedom and self determination. Throughout, what is striking is the lively, positive portrayal of friendship and mutual support between the women. In a nice touch, Fatma's stepmother finds the money to enable the young woman to study, and there are many lovely moments of intimacy between Fatma and her friends as they dance, gossip and generally behave like the modern, educated women they are.
The rape of Fatma is powerfully suggested by a series of shots. Then she is in the shower, trying to come to terms with her loss of innocence alone. Rape is an extreme catalyst in a country where women should be virgin brides but the theme of the victim’s guilt, is universal.
The story unfolds slowly, as Fatma leaves the family and goes to University. She enjoys a certain amount of freedom but is haunted by her earlier experience. She later falls in love but, before marriage, she gets a doctor to “help her out”, doing an operation to make her into a virgin again. This fact is almost forgotten as Fatma’s life goes from strength to strength. Her husband has a house built and they enjoy all the trappings of rich Tunisian society. However, Fatma’s guilt is constantly in the background, waiting for the moment to reveal itself – Albawaba.com
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
