A Son

A Son, originally planned as the opening film at Arab Film Days 2020, was canceled due to covid-19. It is a melodrama with thriller elements set against the backdrop of the Arab Spring. Now, the film can finally be seen in cinemas in Oslo.

We follow Farés, Meriem, and their young son Aziz, a family from the upper middle class. During an outing to the countryside, they find themselves caught in the crossfire of a military ambush, and one of the bullets hits Aziz. Upon arriving at the hospital, it quickly becomes clear that Aziz is suffering from severe internal bleeding and urgently needs a liver transplant to survive. However, the waiting list is far too long to save him. The alternative is an illegal liver transplant from Libya, another country in the midst of a budding revolution. The family’s tragedy deepens when a long-buried family secret comes to light, putting Farés and Meriem’s marriage to the ultimate test.

Using the early days of the Arab Spring—a period we all recognize—as a thematic backdrop to explore intimate and challenging family dynamics is a smart choice by director Mehdi Barsaoui. Actor Sami Bouajila masterfully brings complexity to the character of Farés, walking a fine line between a tough exterior and a vulnerable inner self as the family’s secrets surface. Najla Ben Abdallah, in the role of Meriem, delivers a heart-wrenching portrayal of a mother’s profound despair and determination to do whatever it takes to save her son. The result is a gripping and highly intelligent film.

The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in 2019, where lead actor Sami Bouajila won the award for Best Actor. Bouajila also won a César Award – France’s equivalent of the Oscars – for Best Actor.

 «Not many debuting directors are able to bring subtlety and depth to a heart-rending subject, which is just one reason why Mehdi M. Barsaoui’s superb “A Son” deserves significant attention»

– Jay Weissberg, Variety – 

Director's Talk // Mehdi Barsaoui

The film's director, Mehdi Barsaoui, will be present for a conversation after the screening of the film on Thursday April 3rd at 18.00. 

Director

Mehdi Barsaoui (b. 1984) was born and raised in Tunisia. He studied at the university in the capital, Tunis, and received his film education in Bologna, Italy. His feature film debut, A Son, was the opening film at the Arab Film Days in 2020. Aïcha is his second feature film.

This film is part of