Cinema
Sun of the Hyenas
شمس الضباع
Ridha Behi · 1977
Synopsis
In a small fishing village in Tunisia, just after independence, German investors decide with the local authorities to build a seaside resort there. Overnight, the men abandon their boats to take jobs on the hotel building site; the wealthy Haj Ibrahim, backed by the notables, takes the side of the project. Once the hotel has opened, the tourists arrive and village life is transformed; almost alone, the fisherman Tahar tries to defend the old way of life.
Context
First feature film by Béhi, who wrote it, the film is a co-production of Tunisia and the Netherlands; it runs a hundred and four minutes (a hundred and ten according to the San Sebastián festival). Théo Van de Sande is credited with the cinematography and Nicola Piovani with the music; Salah Benmoussa, Hélène Catzaras, Larbi Doghmi, Mahmoud Moursy and Ahmed Snoussi play the roles. The satirical story makes the omda a greedy and naive village chief, and the businessman an unscrupulous profiteer; the blacksmith Lamine and his helper Ali each live through its effects in their own way. It was selected for the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes in 1977, then shown at the Melbourne festival in 1979.
Who it is for
A social and satirical film about tourism and its effects, accessible without prior knowledge of the subject.
Prizes and reception
Grand Prize at the Damascus International Film Festival in 1979, according to the Humanities Institute.
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