FATMA

Year: 2001
UK: NFT
Cast: Awatef Jendoubi, Nabila Guider, Bagdadi Aoum, Amel Safta, Huguette Maillard, Maurice Garrel
Director: Khaled Ghorbal
Countries: France / Tunisia
Language: Arabic / French (English subtitles)
UK: 124 mins
UK Release Date: 15 March 2002 (Limited Release - London)

Synopsis

The debut feature of director Khaled Ghorbal, FATMA is the stirring, sensitive and subtle account of a girl's experiences of patriarchy in today's Tunisia.

Raped at the age of 17 by a cousin visiting the family, Fatma (Awatef Jendoubi) keeps this shattering experience a secret but the incident has a profound effect on her life. It affects her attitude and response to any men she meets and makes her even more determined to go to college. Her father is against further education but Fatma wants to achieve a greater level of independence which is frowned upon by the traditionally patriarchal society.