As I Open My Eyes
{{short description|2015 film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name = As I Open My Eyes
| image = As I Open My Eyes poster.png
| caption = Film poster
| director = Leyla Bouzid
| producer = Sandra da Fonseca
| writer = Leyla Bouzid
Marie-Sophie Chambon
| starring = Baya Medhaffer
| music = Khyam Allami
| cinematography = Sébastien Goepfert
| editing = Lilian Corbeille
| distributor = Shellac
| released = {{Film date|2015|9|5|Venice|2015|12|23|France|2016|01|13|Tunisia|df=yes}}
| runtime = 102 minutes
| country = France
Tunisia
Belgium
United Arab Emirates
Switzerland
| language = Tunisian Arabic
French
| gross = $50,656{{cite web|title= 'As I Open My Eyes' (2016) |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=asiopenmyeyes.htm|website=Box Office Mojo|accessdate=18 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/A-peine-jouvre-les-yeux#tab=summary|title=As I Open My Eyes (À peine j'ouvre les yeux) |website=The Numbers |access-date=18 October 2016}}
}}
As I Open My Eyes ({{langx|fr|À peine j'ouvre les yeux}}) is a 2015 French-Tunisian drama film directed by Leyla Bouzid. It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/sandra-bullocks-our-brand-tom-hiddlestons-i-saw-the-light-to-premiere-at-toronto-1201572271/ |title=Sandra Bullock's 'Our Brand Is Crisis,' Robert Redford's 'Truth' to Premiere at Toronto |accessdate=18 August 2015 |work=Variety|date=18 August 2015 }} Baya Medhaffar stars as a teenage rock singer. The film is Bouzid's first feature. It was selected as the Tunisian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.tuniscope.com/article/103257/culture/theatre/leyla-bouzid-oscars-215818 |title=Officiel : 'A peine j'ouvre les yeux' de Leyla Bouzid représentera la Tunisie aux Oscars 2016 |work=Tuniscope |date=22 September 2016 |accessdate=22 September 2016}} However, the film was not included on the final list of submissions published by the Academy.{{cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/news/85-countries-competition-2016-foreign-language-film-oscarr |title=85 Countries In Competition For 2016 Foreign Language Film Oscar |work=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |date=11 October 2016 |accessdate=11 October 2016}}
Plot
In Tunisia in the summer of 2010, 18-year-old Farah Kallel wraps up school exams and prepares to enter university. In the meantime, she has joined a band and is secretly dating the lute player, Borhène. Unbeknownst to Farah, her band is already being watched by the police, as their songs are critical of the current government. Farah's mother, Hayet (Ghalia Benali) receives a visit from an old friend, Moncef, who warns her of the police involvement and warns her to watch her daughter. However, the night of their first gig, Farah locks her mother in her room and escapes to sing at the gig. The performance goes well, giving Farah confidence to continue with her musical pursuits, despite Hayet wanting Farah to study medicine at university.
After several more gigs, Borhène arrives at a rehearsal having been interrogated and beaten by the police all night. He accuses Ali, the band's manager who has been taping all of their performances, of being a cop and informing on the band. Later, Ali approaches Farah and tells her he has been protecting her and tries to warn her further but she ignores him.
Going to a bus station, on the way to visit her father, Farah goes missing. Hayet tries everything to locate her but eventually realizes that Farah has been taken by the police. She goes to Borhène who tries to convince her that they should get publicity to force the police to release Farah, but she decides to go a different way, contacting Moncef who tells her where Farah is located.
In prison, Farah has been beaten and sexually assaulted. She is eventually released to her parents, but sinks into a deep depression, quitting her band. Hayet manages to help Farah find her voice again and sings with her in her room.
Cast
- Baya Medhaffar as Farah
- Ghalia Benali as Hayet
- Montassar Ayari as Borhėne
Reception
The film received positive reviews upon its release. It holds a 100% fresh ratings from Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.5 average rating.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/as_i_open_my_eyes/|title=As I Open My Eyes (À peine j'ouvre les yeux)|website=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=|accessdate=22 September 2016}} The critic for Variety called it an "impressive debut" and called Medhaffer's acting "a stand-out lead perf".{{cite web|last1=WEISSBERG|first1=JAY|title=Film Review: 'As I Open My Eyes'|date=29 September 2015 |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/as-i-open-my-eyes-film-review-1201592203/|accessdate=19 January 2016}} A critic for Indiewire gave the film a score of A− and called it "the Best Fictional Film Yet About the Arab Spring."{{cite web|last1=Aftab|first1=Kaleem|title=Venice Review: 'As I Open My Eyes' is the Best Fictional Film Yet About the Arab Spring|date=4 September 2015 |url=http://www.indiewire.com/article/venice-review-as-i-open-my-eyes-is-the-best-fictional-film-yet-about-the-arab-spring-20150904|accessdate=19 January 2016}} The Hollywood Reporter was less enthused about the film criticizing its "mostly familiar notes" but praising the cinematography and acting.{{cite web|last1=van Hoeij|first1=Boyd|title='As I Open My Eyes' ('A peine j'ouvre les yeux'): Venice Review|website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=3 September 2015 |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/as-i-open-my-eyes-819765|accessdate=19 January 2016}}
Accolades
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|4400174|As I Open My Eyes}}
{{Tunisian submissions for the Academy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:As I Open My Eyes}}
Category:2010s French-language films