5 September 2021 (2021-09-05) (Venice Film Festival)
Running time
92 minutes
Countries
Tunisia France Switzerland Qatar
Language
Arabic
Under the Fig Trees (Arabic: تحت الشجرة, romanized: Taht al-Shajara) is a 2021 Tunisian drama film directed by Erige Sehiri [ca], starring Fidé Fdhili, Feten Fdhili, Ameni Fdhili, Samar Sifi, Leila Ouhebi, Hneya Ben Elhedi Sbahi, Gaith Mendassi, Abdelhak Mrabti, Fedi Ben Achour and Firas Amri.
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 26 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8/10. The website's consensus reads: "Distinguished by a naturalistic approach that's enriched by strong work from an ensemble heavy with first-time actors, Under the Fig Trees explores a world of ideas in the span of a single day."[4] Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that "The languid, relaxed body language, the clipped cadences of shared stories, and the affection with which the women speak to each other even during moments of tension all bolster the film’s realism and its sense of soul."[5]
Amber Wilkinson of Screen Daily wrote that "Sehiri has already proved herself as a documentarian with the award-winning Railway Men, and she brings that same sense of naturalism to her debut fiction feature".[6]
