Tunisian filmmaker Ala Eddine Slim attended this week’s Atlas Workshops at Marrakech Film Festival with the tough minimize of his third function movie, “Agora.”
The movie revolves round three lacking individuals who return to a distant city in Tunisia, the place the native police inspector, Fathi, tries to unravel the thriller with the assistance of her good friend Amine. Then a second inspector arrives from the capital. The occasions of the movie develop as in the event that they had been happening within the goals of two animals – a blue canine and a black crow.
Slim’s earlier two movies, with minimal dialogue and highly effective atmospheric photos, have garnered vital essential acclaim: “The Last of Us” (2016), which gained the Lion of the Future Prize at Venice, and “Tlamess” (2019), which was chosen for the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes.
“Agora” is a French-Tunisian coproduction between Julie Viez’s Cinenovo and Slim’s Exit Productions. It has secured 80% of its €623,593 funds ($743,000).
Ala Eddine Slim spoke to Variety concerning the mission.
How does “Agora” evaluate to your earlier two movies.
It continues a few of the themes explored in my different movies, however with many new elements. It’s the primary time that I take advantage of extra dialogue, though the movie nonetheless stays very visible.
Is the complete story purported to be a dream?
For me the complete movie takes place within the animals’ goals. There’s a sequence in direction of the top the place I feel that’s clear. Every 15-20 minutes within the movie, we return to the 2 animals who’re mendacity down and speak about what’s occurring.
Why did you resolve to make use of this system of the animals dreaming?
I’ve a specific admiration for animals and this time on this movie it’s offered as if it had been the dream of two animals. One day I used to be listening to a podcast about whether or not or not canines dream. In the unique script I had the presence of a canine and a crow, and whereas I used to be writing I modified the script to incorporate the concept of them dreaming. It was a really liberating thought, because it allowed me to experiment and check out a few of totally different types of narrative and compositions. In my two earlier movies there was numerous nature and the forest. This time it’s extra in an city setting, but additionally exhibiting the character within the metropolis.
Why is the canine blue?
I like the colour blue. I discover it to be a really destabilizing shade. Once I noticed a information report about blue canines who appeared in Russia as a result of that they had been swimming in water with a blue dye. Visually, it’s very stunning.
You say in your director’s assertion that the movie is about a spot that might be contaminated and cursed, like all locations populated by people. What do you imply?
The animals live of their main territory. For instance we now see the inhabitants of Palestine being chased off their land, in addition to the animals who had been there, originally, earlier than human beings. I’m not evaluating human beings to animals, however I’m saying that the previous inhabitants of those lands are being pushed from their houses. I feel that human beings have failed someplace, by some stupidity or cruelty we’re unable to resolve issues. We want to resort to violence as an alternative of going through actuality.
Why are you curious about the theme of lacking individuals?
It’s true that in my earlier movies there are additionally characters who disappear or can’t be discovered, or their our bodies can’t be discovered. In this movie we now have three individuals who have disappeared in enigmatic circumstances after which return. That initially triggers an investigation, however then evolves right into a extremely conflictual state of affairs, between the individuals who wish to settle for the returnees and those that don’t. Each of the three characters correspond to tales of lacking individuals in Tunisia. The first returnee is a shepherd whose throat has been slashed. The character is impressed by a widely known occasion that occurred a couple of years in the past right here in Tunisia, when a shepherd was kidnapped by terrorists who had been based mostly within the mountains on the border. He was decapitated however his physique was by no means discovered, solely his head and the Tunisian authorities did nothing about it. There have been different instances like this in the identical space. The second returnee within the movie is a lady who tried to cross the ocean, however didn’t make it, and whose physique wasn’t discovered both. Then there’s a 3rd returnee who’s a manufacturing facility employee who has disappeared within the manufacturing facility’s quarry, like a number of accidents that happen in Tunisia.
Are the returning characters truly ghosts?
No, they’re actual individuals. But they don’t discuss, and don’t react to something. They don’t work together with the opposite characters. They come again like statuettes, merely staring into house. But they’re actual. For instance, the girl who individuals thought had drowned, returns with water dripping from her physique.
What is the function of the inspectors within the movie?
Initially, there are two foremost characters — a neighborhood police inspector, Fathi, and a physician, Amine, who’re making an attempt to know the way it’s doable from a scientific perspective. Then a second police inspector is shipped to the city from the capital and in addition a lady physician, Dr. Layouni, who comes from the capital, who’s a really sturdy character, very pragmatic, whose mission is to take care of order and never depart room for any rumors or doubts.
Is the movie primarily about fixing this thriller?
No. As a spectator I don’t want to know all the pieces after I watch a movie, I simply have to really feel issues. For me I feel the cinema expertise is all about feeling. I didn’t need the movie to be an investigation into the return of the misplaced characters, it begins out as an investigation however then I abandon this to discover different issues. But I do hope that the movie will generate some debate concerning the matter of disappeared individuals.
Is the movie about how authorities attempt to cowl issues up?
I feel this story can occur nearly anyplace. Here in Tunisia, for instance, on January 14, 2011, many individuals died from bullets and even now 12 years later we don’t know what occurred to them, or who ordered it. This occurs in lots of different nations, too.
What are your expectations from the Atlas Workshops and what are your subsequent tasks?
I’m nonetheless trying to full the financing for the post-production, and to get suggestions from the consultants. In addition to “Agora,” I’m producing two feature-length documentaries, which are actually additionally in post-production.
