Professor (Al Oustadh)
Arab Feature Film Competition
Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud / Feature Narrative / Tunisia, France, Qatar / 2012 / 92 min / Colour / HDCAM
In Arabic / English subtitles
Interests: Drama
International Premiere
Synopsis
Deeply insightful about the human-rights situation in Tunisia in the 70s, ‘Professor’ is a dramatisation of the events surrounding a university law instructor’s involvement with the government of President Habib Bourguiba. Appointed by the ruling party to defend the official position of its League of Human Rights during a period of tension between the government and the unions, Khalil Kalsaoui is having an extra-marital affair with one of his students. When she is arrested for her political views and opposition to authorities, Khalil attempts to defend her – and soon finds his career and personal life in jeopardy. Established director Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud echoes the deterioration of human rights in Tunisia under recently deposed President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and in doing so demonstrates one of the main forces driving Tunisia’s revolution of 2011. Indeed, the film is itself a document of the revolution – shooting was repeatedly stopped during Ben Ali’s rule and could only be finished after the success of the revolution.
About the Directors
Born in 1947, Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud studied cinema in Belgium in the 70s. His films include the music documentary ‘Les Mille et une voix’ in 2000 and three features: ‘Traversées’ (1982), ‘ChichKhan’ (1992) and ‘Les Siestes grenadine’, which won the Special Jury Prize in Turin in 1999. He currently teaches screenwriting at the Université Libre in Brussels.
Credits
- Director
- Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud
- Screenwriter
- Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud
- Producer
- Habib Bel Hadi
- Editor
- Dina farouk
- Music
- Michel Portal
- Cinematographer
- Ali Ben Abdallah
- Cast
- Hafiane Ahmed, Azeiz Ramzi, Sondos Belhassen, Mlika Lobna, Dziri Lotfi, Jamoussi Lassaad