Info:

Screening format: DCP
Original title: Taht alshajra
Director: Erige Sehiri
Writers: Peggy Hamann, Ghalya Lacroix, Erige Sehiri
Cast: Abdelhak Mrabti, Fedi Ben Achour, Gaith Mendassi
Countries of origin: Tunisia, Switzerland, France, Qatar, Germany
Language: Arabic
Subtitles: English
Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes

About the film:

Under the Fig Trees is a film set in a fig orchard in northwest Tunisia on a warm summer day. It follows the seemingly mundane workday of a group of teenage girls and seasoned farmhands who work side by side to collect the harvest, offering a rare glimpse into their inner lives. Despite the challenges they face, the girls envision new possibilities for themselves, reflecting on their position amidst tradition and modernity.

Erige Sehiri’s observational gaze skillfully captures authentic moments, giving a sense of intimacy to film’s characters who constitute a microcosm which reflects Tunisian society. This empathetic ensemble drama depicts the nuanced experiences of contemporary young women as they negotiate their individual aspirations and the complexities of cultural traditions.

Erige Sehiri (born 1982, France)

Erige Sehiri is a French-Tunisian filmmaker born in 1982 who runs her own production company, Henia Production. She has directed multiple documentaries that explore Tunisian society, such as The Station Master (2020). Under the Fig Trees marks her first foray into fiction filmmaking.