AS I OPEN MY EYES (2015) by Leyla Bouzid

Why we picked it

“Fictional reenactments of the events leading to the Arab Spring have started to appear — and Leyla Bouzid’s feature-length debut As I Open My Eyes is by far the best. Like so many of the finest portraits of real life political events, the director has cleverly kept the story small, while hinting at a much bigger picture.” - Kaleem Aftab, IndieWire “Leyla Bouzid’s fiercely committed debut should draw plenty of attention not only for the way it deals with the political climate in her homeland but also for how she charts the painful transition of her lead character from outspoken, rebellious adolescence to a more careful and often resigned adulthood.” - Dan Fainaru, Screen Daily “The film is packed with music that both sketches what life in Tunisia is like for the downtrodden and shows off the very real chops of a talented group of musicians. The aptly named As I Open My Eyes is both universal as a coming-of-age film, and very specific about what coming of age in a dictatorship looks l