Sálgreinirinn Selma snýr aftur til heimabæjar síns í Túnis til þess að opna sálfræðistofu. Ekki eru allir bæjarbúar sáttir við þetta framtak í fyrstu en fljótlega fara furðufuglar bæjarins að láta sjá sig og kúnnahópur Selmu stækkar ört. Fljótlega er Selma komin inn í öll leyndarmál og slúður bæjarins og málin flækjast enn frekar þegar myndarlegur lögreglumaður fer að sýna henni áhuga.

Myndin veitir ómetanlega innsýn inn í samtímasafélag Túnis, auk þess að vera sprenghlægileg!

Shown either with Icelandic or English subtitles (varies between screenings)!

English

Selma, a psychoanalyst, deals with a cast of colourful new patients after returning home to Tunisia to open a practice. In this sophisticated comedy, Manele Labidi opens a fascinating window into modern Tunisia at a crossroads, with a story of contrasts, contradictions and culture clashes, full of vitality and humour.

Farahani (seen at the Festival in 2016 in Jim Jarmusch’s Paterson and who’s worked with greats like Asghar Farhadi) gives a powerful and compelling performance. She hits all the comic beats and deftly inhabits a character, who, above all, wants to do what’s right. Arab Blues develops with an irresistible charm while not sidestepping bigger questions about both a country and a woman at a crossroads.

“If Woody Allen were a French-Tunisian woman, he would have made something such as Arab Blues. Golshifteh Farahani has a magnetic and hugely watchable presence.”

“A sparkling, hilarious and original comedy, which sheds an absolutely new light on a country still struggling with cultural change. An incredibly alive, fun, intelligent and hopeful film, which never bores. ”

Shown either with Icelandic or English subtitles (varies between screenings)!