Who Do I Belong To (Mé el Aïn)
Ajyal Competition, Special Screening
Meryam Joobeur / Feature Narrative / Tunisia, France, Canada, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Qatar / 2024 / 117 min / Colour
In Arabic / English subtitles
Interests: Drama
Middle East Premiere
Rated: This film has not been rated.
Synopsis
Aicha lives a quiet, secluded life with her husband and youngest son in a remote village in northern Tunisia. The family remains consumed by the grief and anguish of losing their eldest sons, Mehdi and Amine, who left to fight in the violent Syrian conflict. When Mehdi suddenly returns home with a mysterious pregnant wife, the fragile peace of the family begins to unravel. A darkness slowly emerges, threatening to consume not just the family, but the entire village. Aicha is forced to navigate between her overwhelming maternal love and her pursuit of the truth behind Mehdi’s war experiences.
As tensions escalate, she must reconcile with painful revelations that challenge her deepest beliefs and maternal instincts. Through the lens of a mother’s struggle, the film explores themes of family, war, and the destructive impact of extremism on the most intimate of relationships. This haunting and visually stunning drama from Academy Award-nominated director Meryam Joobeur blends elements of magical realism with a deeply rooted human story, creating an unforgettable portrayal of the complexities of motherhood in the shadow of war.
About the Directors
Meryam Joobeur is an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker based in Montreal. Her short film ‘Brotherhood’ (2018) won over 75 international awards and was nominated for an Oscar in 2020. With roots in both Tunisia and Canada, her films examine family, identity, and societal conflicts. Her first feature film, ‘Who Do I Belong To’, continues her exploration of complex human emotions set against challenging socio-political landscapes. Meryam is an alumna of the TIFF Talent Lab, Berlinale Talent Lab, and the Sundance Screenwriters Lab.
Credits
- Director
- Meryam Joobeur
- Screenwriter
- Meryam Joobeur
- Producer
- Nadim Cheikhrouha, Sarra Ben Hassen, Annick Blanc, Maria Gracia Turgeon, Meryam Joobeur
- Co-Producer
- Vincent Dupuis, Victor Lech, Baptiste Leroy, Ramsis Mahfoudh,
- Cinematographer
- Vincent Gonneville
- Editor
- Maxime Mathis, Meryam Joobeur
- Production Company
- Tanit Films / Midi La Nuit / Instinct Bleu
- Sales Company
- Luxbox
- Sound
- Aymen Laabidi (sound recordist), Gwennolé Le Borgne (sound design), Elias Boughedir (sound design), Niels Barletta (Mix)
- Mixing
- Niels Barletta
- Music
- Peter Venne
- Cast
- Salha Nasraoui, Mohamed Hassine Grayaa, Malek Mechergui, Adam Bessa, Dea Liane, Rayen Mechergui, Chaker Mechergui