DUBAI: Sparked by real-life events, the Tunisian short film, “In Three Layers of Darkness,” explores the experience of many immigrants traveling to the Western hemisphere.
Director Houcem Slouli told Arab News that his film, now playing at Jeddah’s Red Sea International Film Festival, critiques the “dehumanizing aspects of bureaucratic systems.”
“Last year, a Tunisian filmmaker had her first short film selected for a festival in France, but her visa was repeatedly denied, despite having all the necessary documents,” he said. He was referring to the case of filmmaker Wafa Lazhari, who was unable to attend the International Animation Film Festival in Annecy, France.
Outraged by this, Slouli sought to take the issue to the silver screen in his 15-minute film that features dialogue in French and Arabic. The director cast actors Ghassen Trabelsi, Mohamed Kolsi, Leila Masrouhi, Sinda Boudriga, Azza Medimegh, Nessrin Bani and Slim Dhib in the short.
“The film addresses themes such as immigration, bureaucratic injustice, dreams and ambition. A dream without borders, with no geographical limits,” the filmmaker explained, adding: “Through the character of Ghassen, we see someone defending his skills and his dreams, fighting for a fundamental right — the right to move freely in the world … unfortunately, for years, Arabs and Africans have not had this freedom and this blocks their ambitions and their dreams.”
Inspired by a verse in the Qur’an — verse six of Surah Az-Zumar — the film’s title symbolizes the many challenges that its protagonist faces in his quest to obtain a visa to stay in France.
“The three layers represent personal, bureaucratic and social obstacles that trap him in a system,” Slouli said. Meanwhile, the Qur’anic verse is interpreted to mean layers within a mother’s womb.
From a malfunctioning parking ticket machine that makes him late for his interview to an invasive health inspection and an unfeeling immigration officer, the narrative presents its lead character with various obstacles.
Slouli hopes that portraying these hurdles will encourage a shift in thinking.
“I hope decision-makers will think about this universal desire for freedom of movement and about human rights that should be available to everyone, no matter their nationality or status,” he said.
He is particularly keen to take the story to the shores of the Red Sea, as “it’s also a chance to share Ghassen’s story with an Arab audience that understands the struggles related to migration and achieving dreams,” Slouli said.
It is not Slouli’s first experience at an international festival — in 2023, his short film “Conditional Desire” won the Best Short Film Award at Turkiye’s Accessible Film Festival. It was also featured as part of the Short Film Competition of the Silicon Valley African Film Festival in the US.
That varied experience seems to have been handy when it comes to collaborating with the cast and crew on any given project, something that he says is his favorite part of the process. (Supplied)
Born in Tunisia in 1994, Slouli completed a degree in film and audiovisual studies at the Higher Institute of Arts and Multimedia in Manouba, Tunisia, before working with notable Tunisian production firms such as Nomadis Images, Artistes Producteurs Associes and Instinct Bleu Films, in addition to ad-hoc projects working as an assistant director and casting director.
That varied experience seems to have been handy when it comes to collaborating with the cast and crew on any given project, something that he says is his favorite part of the process.
“Of course, sometimes the discussions lead to conflicts, but there’s also real pleasure in these moments. They give life to the collaboration,” he said.
“It’s amazing to see how ideas come to life with the help of the production team, the actors, the director of photography, and everyone involved in the project. Cinema has this unique ability to capture human experiences and present them in a way that speaks to everyone.”
