A Tale of Love and Desire

2021, France, 103 min – Romance, Coming of Age
In French with English Subtitles

Synopsis

Ahmed, 18, French of Algerian origin, grew up in the suburbs of Paris. At the university, he meets Farah, a young Tunisian girl, full of energy, who has just arrived in Paris. While discovering a corpus of sensual and erotic Arabic literature he never imagined existed, Ahmed falls deep in love with Farah, and although literally overwhelmed with desire, he will try to resist it.

Directed by

Leila Bouzid

Cast

Sami Outalbali (Sex Education), Zbeida Belhajamor, Diong-Kéba Tacu, Aurélia Petit

Reactions

It’s an edifying and introspective film, with something valuable to say about embracing our most carnal impulses without shame. – HR
Warm, passionate and sexy in a well-read kind of way… – Screen
A jewel not to be missed. – Ouest France
A radiant wonder. – Sud Ouest 
An incandescent film, filled with delicate sensuality. – 20 Minutes
Subtle and delicate. – Positif

Festivals and Awards

AWARDS
Etalon de Bronze – Fespaco
Special Jury Prize & Valentina Pedicini Award for Best First & Second Feature – Medfilm
FESTIVALS 2021
Cannes Film Festival – Critics’ Week – Closing Film
Toronto IFF – TIFF Industry Selects
Zurich IFF
Filmfest Hamburg – Film Critic Award Competition
Vancouver IFF
BFI London IFF
Busan IFF
Schlingel Youth FF
FESPACO – In Competition
Philadelphia IFF
Valladolid IFF – In Competition
Colcoa French FF
French Film Festival UK
Sydney Film Festival
Tuebingen French Film Festival
Cinemania
Miami Film Festival Gems
Thessaloniki IFF
Medfilm – In competition
Semana del Cine de Peru
Panama IFF
Cairo IFF
Red Sea IFF
Festival Varilux de Cinema Français

Playdates and Virtual Cinema Bookings

VIRTUAL
City
State
Start date
Hawaii International Film Festival
Honolulu
HI
3/1/22
Cleveland International Film
Festival
Cleveland
OH
4/10/22
THEATRICAL
City
State
Start date
Tallgrass Film Association
Wichita
KS
4/1/22
Afi Silver Theatre & Cultural
Center
Silver Spring
MD
3/18/22
Cleveland International Film
Festival
Cleveland
OH
3/30/22

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