Derrière le soleil

Afraid of passing on his stutter to his young child, Dhia Jerbi, a Tunisian filmmaker living in exile in France, sets out to understand the origins of this "disorder". To confront this physical manifestation of an unresolved experience, he returns to visit his relatives in Tunisia, the country in which he spent his adolescence before leaving during the revolution. By interviewing his parents and friends, he revisits his personal history and that of a country, echoing the words, hopes and disappointments of an entire generation. The director invites us to engage in profound and universal reflection on the subject of legacy, and in particular the choice of what we do and do not want to pass on, be it a cultural and political heritage, or trauma. With infinite tenderness, Dhia Jerbi films his family, searches for the right words with his son, and brings to his work the same care that his father lavishes on the citrus trees in his garden. By choosing to cultivate and nurture, the filmmaker opens his heart to a reconciliation with Tunisia.
Alice Riva

Derrière le soleil, 2024
Au pays des oranges tristes, 2018