Harka

Direct from Cannes Un Certain Regard, this engrossing debut explores the trials and tribulations of a young Tunisian man in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution.

Set in the tumultuous aftermath of Tunisia’s 2010–2011 uprising, which formed part of the broader Arab Spring, British-Egyptian-American filmmaker Lotfy Nathan’s extraordinary debut feature follows a young man, Ali, who makes a precarious living selling contraband gasoline on the black market. When his father dies, he’s forced to take charge of his younger sisters and must wrestle with the weight of responsibility – and with his anger towards the injustices he encounters. Seeking stability but faced with very few options, Ali makes a decision from which he cannot turn back.

More than a decade after the chain reaction of protests that sprang up across the Arab world, Harka captures a generation whose voices are still struggling to be heard over their nations’ political din, building a gritty, deeply humane portrait galvanised by righteous indignation. Powered by former fisherman turned actor Adam Bessa’s astonishing, naturalistic performance, Nathan’s film is a shattering slice of social realism, a gripping thriller and a moving plea for dignity.

Viewer Advice: Includes themes that some may find distressing. Viewer discretion is recommended.