Tunisia has made comparatively few submissions for the worldwide characteristic Oscar, but because of feminine helmer Kaouther Ben Hania, the nation not too long ago earned a nomination with “The Man Who Bought His Pores and skin” (2020) and a spot on the shortlist with “4 Daughters” (2023). This 12 months’s submission, “Take My Breath,” comes from one other feminine director, Nada Mezni Hafaiedh, however didn’t make the shortlist. The superbly shot, attractively forged melodrama follows the plight of an intersex individual residing as a lady till her secret is betrayed. Sadly, the well-intentioned screenplay by Hafaiedh and Pascal Jousse piles on such a plethora of social points (police corruption, violence towards girls, sexual trafficking, unlawful immigration) that it overwhelms the central storyline. 

Shams (slender, androgynous-looking Amina Ben Ismail) is a proficient 23-year-old seamstress, who’s well-liked in her small island neighborhood. She lives with and helps her bitter mom Fadilah (Fatma Saidene) and wheelchair-using sister. Her quiet competence and pure magnificence seize the eye of hunky engineer-cum-fisherman Habib (former mannequin and TV star Mohammed Mrad), who desires to marry her. In the meantime, she is being eyed lasciviously by neighborhood thug Abdelkhalik (Aymen Ben Hmida), the abusive husband of her pal Naima (Sana Ben Cheikh Larbi). 

The movie’s opening moments are so quiet and naturalistic, highlighting the fantastic thing about the island and the candy attraction between Shams and Habib, that it’s a little bit of a shock when occasions take a flip for the histrionic. But from the start, it’s apparent that Shams has a secret, one which she is unable to share with Habib, past stammering, “I’m not like different ladies.” However with none foregrounding, it seems Naima is aware of what Shams is hiding and the 2 girls share a secret ardour.

As soon as her secret is out, Shams is pressured to flee the island for Tunis earlier than her neighbors, who concern what they don’t perceive, activate her. She takes refuge with Toufik (Mohamed Dahech), the Sufi practitioner son of island smart man Abderrahmane (Fathi Akkari), and tries to determine on what gender id to make use of transferring ahead. 

Although it presents a partial perception into the challenges going through an intersex individual like Shams, whose mom was so ashamed that that her child had each sexual organs that she didn’t register the beginning, the movie frequently spirals into much less credible, cleaning soap opera-like subplots, and leaves us craving extra details about Shams’ situation. At the same time as Shams makes some naive and harmful errors whereas attempting to land a job, the Sufi teachings of Toufik and his father add optimistic classes of affection and compassion that assist Shams change into extra grounded and assured.

The movie marks the third lengthy characteristic by director Hafaiedh, whose works (fiction and documentary) share an curiosity in marginalized communities and feminine sexuality. Whereas the screenplay encompasses some taboo matters, it has the great sense to solely recommend relatively than present something lurid. 

“Breath” traveled the competition circuit final 12 months earlier than a profitable theatrical opening in Tunisia in November 2023. Aside from handsome leads Ben Ismail and Mrad, the movie’s largest asset is the placing camerawork by Mohamed Magrahoui, which is especially attuned to gentle and water.