As I Open My Eyes

In AS I OPEN MY EYES – the opening film at Arab Film Days in 2016 – we meet the charming 18-year-old Farah, who fights against both her family and the Tunisian regime to pursue her dream of becoming a singer in the months leading up to the Arab Spring.

Her father works and lives in another city because he refuses to join the president's party. Her mother has taken it upon herself to "protect" Farah from making the wrong choices in life—something she knows all too well from her own rebellious youth. Farah defies her family and pushes the boundaries of free expression by sneaking out to live a double life as the vocalist in a band with political lyrics and a secret boyfriend. But the double life doesn't last long. One day, her mother receives a visit from an old acquaintance who reveals her daughter's unconventional lifestyle. Farah is confronted with her secrets and promises to stay away—but can she keep that promise?

As I Open My Eyes charmed audiences around the world and became the Arab film that won by far the most international awards the year it was released. The film brilliantly captures the atmosphere of fear and suspicion that prevailed under Tunisia's dictatorship, offering one of the most compelling cinematic portrayals of the Arab Spring—without a single shot of a protest. The young female lead elevates the film to great heights with a youthful energy that radiates through the camera. Additionally, the film is packed with captivating songs, performed with great conviction.

The film was screened at the film festivals in Venice and Toronto in 2015.

Archive 2016

Director

Leyla Bouzid (b. 1984) is a Tunisian filmmaker. She studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and made her feature film debut with As I Open My Eyes in 2015. Her latest feature film is A Tale of Love and Desire (2021).

This film is part of