Challat of Tunis

Name: Challat of Tunis
Genre: Mystery, Docufiction
Released: 2013
Duration: 89 min

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rights:

Highlights

This mockumentary highlights the presence of misogyny in the Tunisian society before the revolution through the phenomenon of the Challat, aka “The Blade”, a man on a motorbike who used to slash women’s buttocks with a razor blade on the streets of Tunis.
Had sold-out screenings in Tunisian theaters.
The only Arab film selection at the 2012 San Sebastian International Film Festival.
It was presented at the Association for Independent Cinema (ACID) program of the Cannes Film Festival.

2013/ Tunisia89 min/ Mystery, Docufiction

Original Title

Le Challat du Tunis

SYNOPSIS

The film follows the journey of a filmmaker who investigates the mystery behind a man who slashes women with a razor blade on the streets of Tunisia in 2003.

CAST

Jallel Dridi
Moufida Dridi
Mohamed Slim Bouchiha

CREW

Screenwriter: Kaouther Ben Hania
DOP: Sofian El Fani
Editor: Nadia Ben Rachid

Production Company(ies)

Cinétéléfilms
Sister Productions
Six Island Productions
Charbon Studio
Lylo Media Group

Producer(s)

Habib Attia
Julie Paratian
Paul Scherzer

San Sebastian International Film Festival, Spain

Cannes Film Festival, France

Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), UAE

Malmo Arab Film Festival (MAFF), Sweden

Vancouver International Film Festival, Canada

Busan International Film Festival, South Korea

Venice International Film Festival, Italy

MedFilm Festival, Italy

Festival International du Film d'Amiens, France

Tampere Film Festival, Finland

Festival Film Dokumenter (FFD) Yogyakart, Indonesia

Durban International Film Festival, South Africa

Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), USA

Franco-Arab Film Festival, Jordan

International Arab Film Festival Zurich, Switzerland

Sarajevo Film Festival, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Traverse City Film Festival, USA

Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur, Belgium

Beirut International Film Festival, Lebanon

Bayeurd’or Award at the Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur, Belgium

Best Documentary Award at the Beirut International Film Festival, Lebanon

French Union of Film Critics Award at the Festival International du Film d'Amiens, France

Discovery Award for Best New Director at the Traverse City Film Festival, USA

Reviews

Jay Weissberg - Variety

Stephen Dalton - The Hollywood Reporter

Maha ben Abdalazeem - France 24 (Arabic)

Middle East Online (Arabic)

Quotes

“Mockumentaries generally have culturally specific elements that play best to local audiences, and Kaouther Ben Hania’s hilarious and acerbic “Challat of Tunis” is a prime example.” Jay Weissberg - Variety

“playful blend of real and fake documentary” Stephen Dalton - The Hollywood Reporter

“Ben Hania’s Challat of Tunis... uniquely mixes reality with jolly fiction” Maha ben Abdalazeem - France 24 (Arabic)