This is what every and each single person in a third-world country has experienced. What happens in the offices, how the streets look, how the police treats you, how people think of a newcomer, and ... This is how these countries feel and the movie is a portrait drawn by a great artist.
21 Reviews
Missing scenes
lena-rheinfurth2 August 2020
On the Couch
kosmasp12 May 2021
The struggle to become something or someone .. to succeed in ones profession or dream/pursuit. And if you are a woman ... well the struggle can be even worse. Especially in some countries and situations. Not that we have reached real equality anywhere, but in some countries it is even worse than in others, when it comes to women being able to work however they want to.
That is just the basis, just one of the points the movie is making. Psychologically speaking there is more to it. Great central performance, great persistence, great fight for what she believes in. And really fun and interesting side stories of the ... side characters overall. A nice little movie/drama, that you will like if you are into low budget character studies.
That is just the basis, just one of the points the movie is making. Psychologically speaking there is more to it. Great central performance, great persistence, great fight for what she believes in. And really fun and interesting side stories of the ... side characters overall. A nice little movie/drama, that you will like if you are into low budget character studies.
Beautiful
AmazingCinema11 October 2020
OK if you like french movies
walidoo19 April 2020
I found this rather a french movie than a tunisian movie. A lot of the dialogues are in french, the main character's french (although of Tunisian background) which leads to some disappointment if you're looking for a real tunisian movie.
That being said, the main actress is really credible and plays very well her role. I also appreciated many comic situations especially at the beginning of the movie which makes it an overall pleasant movie, not too boring or long like many other indy french or tunisian movies. We can regret also a bit too much of cliches on both parisian (the rudeness of the psychanalyst) and tunisian people but that is done without any bad intention which makes those OK.
Could have been better
didcrywolf12 September 2021
If you want your main character to go into some dream/alternative sequence, you need to set it up properly. The story was going well until out of nowhere you are stuck in a car with an imaginary character for no rhyme or reason. That killed it for me. That whole scene needs to be edited out.
Overall great acting, funny spoofish characters.
Overall great acting, funny spoofish characters.
Why So Blue? (A Sofa in Tunis is a Way Better Title)
ryanpersaud-5941524 February 2023
Arab Blues is a pretty formulaic film, but made remarkable for its socially realistic depiction of life in Tunis, Tunisia. The film follows a young psychoanalyst returning to her homeland from France, Selma (played excellently by Franco-Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani), trying to set up a practise in a land where psychotherapy is considered a Western luxury.
This film's best aspect is its slice of life nature; the concept lends itself well to getting into a colourful cast of character's lives, as they reveal deep and dark secrets they probably wouldn't in a society where "face" and honour are so important. We also get a nice sense of what Tunisians care about: improving their country, dealing with (and ultimately accepting) petty corruption, the "right" way to practise Islam, the role of women, the importance of family. There's a lot in this relatively short film.
Yet, I couldn't help but feel, despite its gorgeous cinematography, likeable characters, refreshingly light hearted tone, that this film could've done more. Many threads are left unfinished, which leads to a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion. Maybe it's the point; life doesn't really follow a neat path. The primary conflict is one mostly settled off screen and no, maybe it's unrealistic to end in a way that ties everything together. But, at the end of the day, this is a movie.
And if realism is what the film was going for, I don't really buy it. There's a lot in this film that doesn't feel that way - which is fine - so, why not just embrace the hokey nature of the story?
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this film. I'm always going to be a bit kinder to movies that are from places I don't typically see them, but this isn't a charity score. This is a pretty fun, enjoyable film.
This film's best aspect is its slice of life nature; the concept lends itself well to getting into a colourful cast of character's lives, as they reveal deep and dark secrets they probably wouldn't in a society where "face" and honour are so important. We also get a nice sense of what Tunisians care about: improving their country, dealing with (and ultimately accepting) petty corruption, the "right" way to practise Islam, the role of women, the importance of family. There's a lot in this relatively short film.
Yet, I couldn't help but feel, despite its gorgeous cinematography, likeable characters, refreshingly light hearted tone, that this film could've done more. Many threads are left unfinished, which leads to a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion. Maybe it's the point; life doesn't really follow a neat path. The primary conflict is one mostly settled off screen and no, maybe it's unrealistic to end in a way that ties everything together. But, at the end of the day, this is a movie.
And if realism is what the film was going for, I don't really buy it. There's a lot in this film that doesn't feel that way - which is fine - so, why not just embrace the hokey nature of the story?
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this film. I'm always going to be a bit kinder to movies that are from places I don't typically see them, but this isn't a charity score. This is a pretty fun, enjoyable film.
Arabian Blues.
morrison-dylan-fan17 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
After watching the fascinating Fulci Talks (2021-also reviewed) I decided to check what else was screening/streaming at the WOW Film Festival. Finding the trailer on the site to be enticing, I started to get the blues.
View on the film:
Landing in the country with a "Free Tunisia" sign blowing in the wind, the screenplay by co-writer/(with Maud Ameline) director Manele Labidi wonderfully plays breezy, fish out of water comedic antics, with a serious state about the fragile state of democracy in the country,with Derwich's clients laying on the sofa telling her their problems behind the up-beat image they present in public.
In the middle of cops looking for backhanders and Derwich hearing how the country is a powder keg, the writers find the Rom-Com style zest in the middle of the crowd, via playfully snappy exchanges between psychiatrist Derwich and her patients, which bounce to the meet-cute between Derwich and a rough edge cop with a heart of gold.
Giving Derwich a house warming party with a crane shot across her home, director Labidi & cinematographer Laurent Brunet paint the Tunisian landscape with a bubbly atmosphere of glossy whip-pans in the counselling meetings, and warm,soft-focus close-ups on the widening grin of Derwich.
Passionately breaking the orders of her family by starting her own counselling business, Golshifteh Farahani gives a delightful turn as Derwich,thanks to mixing a kooky sass for one-liners with a sweet sincerity for the blues.
View on the film:
Landing in the country with a "Free Tunisia" sign blowing in the wind, the screenplay by co-writer/(with Maud Ameline) director Manele Labidi wonderfully plays breezy, fish out of water comedic antics, with a serious state about the fragile state of democracy in the country,with Derwich's clients laying on the sofa telling her their problems behind the up-beat image they present in public.
In the middle of cops looking for backhanders and Derwich hearing how the country is a powder keg, the writers find the Rom-Com style zest in the middle of the crowd, via playfully snappy exchanges between psychiatrist Derwich and her patients, which bounce to the meet-cute between Derwich and a rough edge cop with a heart of gold.
Giving Derwich a house warming party with a crane shot across her home, director Labidi & cinematographer Laurent Brunet paint the Tunisian landscape with a bubbly atmosphere of glossy whip-pans in the counselling meetings, and warm,soft-focus close-ups on the widening grin of Derwich.
Passionately breaking the orders of her family by starting her own counselling business, Golshifteh Farahani gives a delightful turn as Derwich,thanks to mixing a kooky sass for one-liners with a sweet sincerity for the blues.
Good premise, missed execution
mademoisherl10 January 2023
I believe it was well-intended, to see how the horizon of the Arabs regarding the psychological aspect of their daily practice. As a society that has even less belief in the talking "cure", the premise of opening a psychoanalysis practice in Tunisia is intriguing. Yet, Arab Blues fell flat in exploring how the challenges go and expanding the awareness of how we could benefit in actually addressing our inner struggles to a professional. There are too many either unresolved subtopics or effortless nonsense resolutions happening by the end of the film and Selma is seen as a snob rather than an empathetic.
Was good could have been better but she rocks!!
jkt200624 September 2020
The movie literally makes you feel blues. Well at least I did. After 1 hour you are totally into her blues as much and want her to go back to where came from having left a comfy life in Paris. Overall, Golshifteh Is a brilliant actress and She shines throughout the movie. Hoping to see her in more movies!!
Just take it all whatever life throws at you.
kameshgdg12 August 2022
Golshifteh Farahani, as wonderful as always. I would say it's a feel good movie which is commenting on some of the issues faced in the modern day society.
Director took the artistic freedom in making it. It's good to watch movie.
And spoiler alert, there's guest entry of Sigmund Freud!!
Director took the artistic freedom in making it. It's good to watch movie.
And spoiler alert, there's guest entry of Sigmund Freud!!
a bunch of stereotypes
pure-wisdom18 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
As a tunisian i was excited about the movie, especially while reading the french title " a sofa in Tunis", I thought: great finally we will be talking about the tunisian society deep complex psychology... and How was I wrong !
the movie is a bunch of sad stereotypes about the tunisian society from the lence of a director that has only grow up in France !
Golshiefteh is gorgeous but so unexpressive, the dialogues are basic with no soul and a bunch of bad clichés.
Correlating open mindness with smoking all the time, depicting trans people as crazy, the policeman that could have been a great caracter is just limited by by the stereotype of "dumb policeman", her cousin,Tunis born, veiled but wears t shirts and dances in the middle of the street and speaks french with a parisian accent better than the main caracter who is supposed to be from Paris !
and the ending... just quickly closing all the issues in 10 minutes and thats it ! no real depth
Baya the hairdresser and the wife of her uncle are the two most legit and best played caracters that reflect real tunisian caracters !
At the end, the movie is just a clumpsy depiction of the tunisian society from a director who didnt do his research well enough.
it will look great for foreigners, but it does depict/critic/reimagine the society I know. It did the mistake of most tunisian film : trying to discuss too many subject in one movie !
It could have been a great movie if the dialogues were more genuine and if she adressed ONE issue : a psychologist that is trying to start her business in Tunis !
All Tunesian are dumb and bad in this film
Josh19786 May 2021
What a bad and superficial film. It has nothing to do with psychology and all jokes are cheap. The people the protagonist met are all bad and dumb and all are Tunesian. The protagonist ist arrogant and a poor psycho-analyst.
Amazing
montana_adad27 October 2019
EUFF Review: Charming, Beautiful, Funny / Grade A-
nairtejas27 November 2020
Arab Blues (A Couch in Tunis) is an instantly likeable film. Its opening shot - about an old man's description of who Sigmund Freud might be from his looks - is charming and so is the story that succeeds it of a young woman (Golshifteh Farahani) coming back to her homeland, Tunisia, from Paris to start a psychoanalysis practice. She knows she will be looked down for it, a testament that she immediately gets from her uncle. But she is independent, courageous, and gritty, and so the film begins. I absolutely loved all the characters and their performances here, especially Farahani, Feryel Chammari, and Aïsha Ben Miled. Each actor is better than the other and I had a sweet time looking at them, delivering beautiful dialogues and acting like it's real life. The social critique is pregnant here but Arab Blues projects itself as a lively comedy about a woman's struggle in modern-day Tunis, a state still marred by backward beliefs and customs, something that is common everywhere. With a supporting soundtrack, adequate humour, and the ability to keep you engaged, Arab Blues is easily one of the most pleasant comedies you will see this year. Glad I sat down and considered EUFF. Grade A-.
(Watched at the 2020 European Union Film Festival of India (EUFF).)
(Watched at the 2020 European Union Film Festival of India (EUFF).)
Golshifteh farahani is always great
saikatdasgegr4 December 2020
A Nice Plot with Nice casts and music. Loved it. I like the way the director portrayed the lifestyle of Tunisian people. Farahani's mixed expressions are also good as always. I'm in love with the opening songs.. and the bg scores. And ofcourse I'm in love with the messy hair and dress-up of Goli.
Nice one!
sanchezghp21 February 2020
Great acting
martinpersson9710 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Mandle Labidi is a great director, and this film is yet another testament to her great abilities as a filmmaker.
It's a somewhat somber and small scaled drama, that nevertheless contains some great humour and lighthearted moments. The script is very clever and well written.
The actors all do an incredible job, the lead in particular, and there are some very heartfelt and beautiful scenes.
The cinematography, cutting and editing is incredible, as one would expect from such a great director. Beautiful imagery, beautifully put together piece overall.
It is an overall incredible film that is definitely recommended for any lover of film!
It's a somewhat somber and small scaled drama, that nevertheless contains some great humour and lighthearted moments. The script is very clever and well written.
The actors all do an incredible job, the lead in particular, and there are some very heartfelt and beautiful scenes.
The cinematography, cutting and editing is incredible, as one would expect from such a great director. Beautiful imagery, beautifully put together piece overall.
It is an overall incredible film that is definitely recommended for any lover of film!
Captivating, heartwarming, nostalgic!
dselin_30022 March 2023
The movie is about a woman, returning to her home country, Tunisia, after having fled at the age of 10. Now with her French passport, and her tattoos, she is stigmatised by the society. But this doesn't stop her from building her life as a psychoanalyst while forming meaningful and heartfelt relationships with those around her. I only wish we could know more about her family and her own history. But I feel like this was on purpose left behind, to give the feeling that Selma was only one of many. This way, we can focus more on the uniqueness of her return and her desire to help, all at the same time not compromising from her values.
Golshifteh
corianpassargad11 December 2020
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
