Tunisian cinema is making a new leap, its popularity increases with the start of the «Netflix» platform, weeks before the presentation of Tunisian films, produced in recent years. This comes within the expansion of broadcasting Arab works, after broadcasting several Egyptian, Maghrebi and Algerian works. At the beginning of this century, Tunisian cinema was in the form of a slow death, as it did not produce more than two or three films a year. But in 2012, she recorded a paradigm shift and started to produce 12 feature films annually, most of which were applauded by the fans locally, Arably and internationally, and won prizes in famous film festivals. A young generation of Tunisian directors and producers managed to address social and political issues, including individual freedoms, religious extremism and women's rights, which were subject to tight control before the 2011 revolution, and to present them in a bold presentation, so they contributed to the emergence of a "new cinema", as many filmmakers see in Tunisia. In the first collaboration between two Tunisian directors and the Netflix service for live streaming, the giant American platform will show cinematic works from Tunisia. "We are looking for topics that stimulate creativity and imagination, and generate discussion (...), and Tunisian films have an excellent ability to tackle fundamental issues," said Noha Al-Tayeb, Director of Procurement Department in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey. "A platform for expression between filmmakers from the Arab world and the general public."

Great stories come from anywhere. What interests us especially is the local indigenous stories in the MENA region, which are considered a crucible for different cultures, different from what is the case in the western countries. The broadcasting giant, which is based in California, will soon add to its platform approximately 40 Arab films, including four feature films from Tunisia produced between 2017 and 2019, according to a statement issued Thursday.

"The movie is like a baby"

It is expected that the feature film "Noura Tilam" will be broadcast by Tunisian director Hend Boujemaa, starting from June 25th. The film, which won the grand prize at the Carthage Film Festival last November, addresses sensitive and socially prohibited issues, through the story of a working mother from a popular milieu who is subjected to material and moral violence, but continues to dream of a better life with her lover who surreptitiously meets him. The Tunisian actress Hind Sabri plays the role of the mother in it. Sabri announced last month that it had started cooperating with the Netflix platform in the context of production.

She wrote on her account on "Instagram", saying: "I feel excited and happy, and I share with you the news of joining the (Netflix) family in a new artwork, which carries a new vision that focuses on Arab women."

Also, "Netflix" will show "Bake Naiish", the first of the long cinematic works of the young director Mahdi Bersawi, which deals with family relations and the limits of new freedoms after the 2011 revolution in Tunisia. "Netflix" started the Tunisian shows by broadcasting the movie "On the Puck of an Imp," by Kawthar Bin Haniyeh last May.

"(Netflix) has given new life to my films, which have become accessible to a wide young audience," said Egyptian director, Yousry Nasrallah.

Among his works that will be broadcast on "Netflix" are films: "The City" and "Mercedes", which were produced in succession in 1999 and 1993.

The platform will feature the Algerian movie "Babicha" by Mounia Meddour, banned in Algeria. The movie's exit to the halls in Algeria was scheduled for last September, but it was prevented at the last minute, without justifications from the Algerian authorities.

Babisha tells the story of the student, Najma, during the civil war that tore the country between 1992 and 2002.

- Netflix purchasing director: “We are looking for topics that stimulate creativity and imagination and stimulate discussion.”

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