As I Open My Eyes: Difference between revisions

As I Open My Eyes
As I Open My Eyes
	Film poster
Directed by	Leyla Bouzid
Written by	Leyla Bouzid; Marie-Sophie Chambon
Produced by	Sandra da Fonseca
Starring	Baya Medhaffer
Cinematography	Sébastien Goepfert
Edited by	Lilian Corbeille
Music by	Khyam Allami
Distributed by	Shellac
Release dates	5 September 2015 (Venice); 23 December 2015 (France); 13 January 2016 (Tunisia);
Running time	102 minutes
Countries	France; Tunisia; Belgium; United Arab Emirates; Switzerland
Languages	Tunisian Arabic; French
Box office	$50,656

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As I Open My Eyes (French: À peine j'ouvre les yeux) is a 2015 French-Tunisian drama film directed by Leyla Bouzid. It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.^[3] Baya Medhaffar stars as a teenage rock singer. The film is Bouzid's first feature. It was selected as the Tunisian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.^[4] However, the film was not included on the final list of submissions published by the Academy.^[5]

Plot

In Tunisia in the summer of 2010, 18-year-old Farah Kallel wraps up school exams and prepares to enter university. In the meantime, she has joined a band and is secretly dating the lute player, Borhène. Unbeknownst to Farah, her band is already being watched by the police, as their songs are critical of the current government. Farah's mother, Hayet (Ghalia Benali) receives a visit from an old friend, Moncef, who warns her of the police involvement and warns her to watch her daughter. However, the night of their first gig, Farah locks her mother in her room and escapes to sing at the gig. The performance goes well, giving Farah confidence to continue with her musical pursuits, despite Hayet wanting Farah to study medicine at university.

After several more gigs, Borhène arrives at a rehearsal having been interrogated and beaten by the police all night. He accuses Ali, the band's manager who has been taping all of their performances, of being a cop and informing on the band. Later, Ali approaches Farah and tells her he has been protecting her and tries to warn her further but she ignores him.

Going to a bus station, on the way to visit her father, Farah goes missing. Hayet tries everything to locate her but eventually realizes that Farah has been taken by the police. She goes to Borhène who tries to convince her that they should get publicity to force the police to release Farah, but she decides to go a different way, contacting Moncef who tells her where Farah is located.

In prison, Farah has been beaten and sexually assaulted. She is eventually released to her parents, but sinks into a deep depression, quitting her band. Hayet manages to help Farah find her voice again and sings with her in her room.

Cast

Baya Medhaffar as Farah
Ghalia Benali as Hayet
Montassar Ayari as Borhėne

Reception

The film received positive reviews upon its release. It holds a 100% fresh ratings from Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.5 average rating.^[6] The critic for Variety called it an "impressive debut" and called Medhaffer's acting "a stand-out lead perf".^[7] A critic for Indiewire gave the film a score of A− and called it "the Best Fictional Film Yet About the Arab Spring."^[8] The Hollywood Reporter was less enthused about the film criticizing its "mostly familiar notes" but praising the cinematography and acting.^[9]

Accolades

Award / Film Festival	Category	Recipients and nominees	Result
Quebec City Film Festival^[10]	Cinema Lovers Award		Won
Lumières Awards^[11]	Best Female Revelation	Baya Medhaffar	Nominated
Lumières Awards^[11]	Best French-Language Film		Nominated
Magritte Awards^[12]	Most Promising Actress	Ghalia Benali	Nominated
Magritte Awards^[12]	Best Foreign Film in Coproduction		Nominated
Venice International Film Festival^[13]	BNL People's Choice Award		Won
Venice International Film Festival^[13]	Europa Cinemas Label Award (Venice Days)		Won
Saint-Jean-de-Luz International Film Festival^[14]	Best Film, Best Actress, Audience Award		Won

References

^ "'As I Open My Eyes' (2016)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "As I Open My Eyes (À peine j'ouvre les yeux)". The Numbers. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "Sandra Bullock's 'Our Brand Is Crisis,' Robert Redford's 'Truth' to Premiere at Toronto". Variety. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
^ "Officiel : 'A peine j'ouvre les yeux' de Leyla Bouzid représentera la Tunisie aux Oscars 2016". Tuniscope. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
^ "85 Countries In Competition For 2016 Foreign Language Film Oscar". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
^ "As I Open My Eyes (À peine j'ouvre les yeux)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
^ WEISSBERG, JAY (29 September 2015). "Film Review: 'As I Open My Eyes'". Retrieved 19 January 2016.
^ Aftab, Kaleem (4 September 2015). "Venice Review: 'As I Open My Eyes' is the Best Fictional Film Yet About the Arab Spring". Retrieved 19 January 2016.
^ van Hoeij, Boyd (3 September 2015). "'As I Open My Eyes' ('A peine j'ouvre les yeux'): Venice Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
^ "Festival de cinéma de la ville de québec". Festival de cinéma de la ville de québec (in Canadian French). Retrieved 17 May 2017.
^ "Prix Lumières 2016 : Trois souvenirs de ma jeunesse et Mustang en tête des nominations". AlloCiné. 4 January 2016.
^ "Magritte du Cinéma: "Les premiers les derniers" et "Keeper" sont favoris". La Libre Belgique (in French). 10 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
^ "Palmares 2015". Venice Days.
^ Lemercier, Fabien (12 October 2015). "As I Open My Eyes wins big at Saint-Jean-de-Luz". Cineuropa. Retrieved 5 October 2023.

External links

As I Open My Eyes at IMDb

[1] "'As I Open My Eyes' (2016)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 18 October 2016.

[NUM-2] "As I Open My Eyes (À peine j'ouvre les yeux)". The Numbers. Retrieved 18 October 2016.

[variety-3] "Sandra Bullock's 'Our Brand Is Crisis,' Robert Redford's 'Truth' to Premiere at Toronto". Variety. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.

[Tunisia-4] "Officiel : 'A peine j'ouvre les yeux' de Leyla Bouzid représentera la Tunisie aux Oscars 2016". Tuniscope. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.

[Submissions-5] "85 Countries In Competition For 2016 Foreign Language Film Oscar". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.

[6] "As I Open My Eyes (À peine j'ouvre les yeux)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 22 September 2016.

[7] WEISSBERG, JAY (29 September 2015). "Film Review: 'As I Open My Eyes'". Retrieved 19 January 2016.

[8] Aftab, Kaleem (4 September 2015). "Venice Review: 'As I Open My Eyes' is the Best Fictional Film Yet About the Arab Spring". Retrieved 19 January 2016.

[9] van Hoeij, Boyd (3 September 2015). "'As I Open My Eyes' ('A peine j'ouvre les yeux'): Venice Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 January 2016.

[10] "Festival de cinéma de la ville de québec". Festival de cinéma de la ville de québec (in Canadian French). Retrieved 17 May 2017.

[11] "Prix Lumières 2016 : Trois souvenirs de ma jeunesse et Mustang en tête des nominations". AlloCiné. 4 January 2016.

[12] "Magritte du Cinéma: "Les premiers les derniers" et "Keeper" sont favoris". La Libre Belgique (in French). 10 January 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2017.

[13] "Palmares 2015". Venice Days.

[14] Lemercier, Fabien (12 October 2015). "As I Open My Eyes wins big at Saint-Jean-de-Luz". Cineuropa. Retrieved 5 October 2023.

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@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 }}
-'''''As I Open My Eyes''''' ({{lang-fr|'''À peine j'ouvre les yeux'''}}) is a 2015 French-Tunisian [[drama film]] directed by [[Leyla Bouzid]]. It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section of the [[2015 Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref name="variety">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/sandra-bullocks-our-brand-tom-hiddlestons-i-saw-the-light-to-premiere-at-toronto-1201572271/ |title=Sandra Bullock's 'Our Brand Is Crisis,' Robert Redford's 'Truth' to Premiere at Toronto |accessdate=18 August 2015 |work=Variety}}</ref> [[Baya Medhaffar]] stars as a teenage rock singer. The film is Bouzid's first feature. It was selected as the Tunisian entry for the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] at the [[89th Academy Awards]].<ref name="Tunisia">{{cite web|url=http://www.tuniscope.com/article/103257/culture/theatre/leyla-bouzid-oscars-215818 |title=Officiel : 'A peine j'ouvre les yeux' de Leyla Bouzid représentera la Tunisie aux Oscars 2016 |work=Tuniscope |date=22 September 2016 |accessdate=22 September 2016}}</ref> However, the film was not included on the final list of submissions published by the Academy.<ref name="Submissions">{{cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/news/85-countries-competition-2016-foreign-language-film-oscarr |title=85 Countries In Competition For 2016 Foreign Language Film Oscar |work=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |date=11 October 2016 |accessdate=11 October 2016}}</ref>
+'''''As I Open My Eyes''''' ({{langx|fr|'''À peine j'ouvre les yeux'''}}) is a 2015 French-Tunisian [[drama film]] directed by [[Leyla Bouzid]]. It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section of the [[2015 Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref name="variety">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/sandra-bullocks-our-brand-tom-hiddlestons-i-saw-the-light-to-premiere-at-toronto-1201572271/ |title=Sandra Bullock's 'Our Brand Is Crisis,' Robert Redford's 'Truth' to Premiere at Toronto |accessdate=18 August 2015 |work=Variety|date=18 August 2015 }}</ref> [[Baya Medhaffar]] stars as a teenage rock singer. The film is Bouzid's first feature. It was selected as the Tunisian entry for the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] at the [[89th Academy Awards]].<ref name="Tunisia">{{cite web|url=http://www.tuniscope.com/article/103257/culture/theatre/leyla-bouzid-oscars-215818 |title=Officiel : 'A peine j'ouvre les yeux' de Leyla Bouzid représentera la Tunisie aux Oscars 2016 |work=Tuniscope |date=22 September 2016 |accessdate=22 September 2016}}</ref> However, the film was not included on the final list of submissions published by the Academy.<ref name="Submissions">{{cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/news/85-countries-competition-2016-foreign-language-film-oscarr |title=85 Countries In Competition For 2016 Foreign Language Film Oscar |work=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |date=11 October 2016 |accessdate=11 October 2016}}</ref>
 ==Plot==
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 ==Reception==
-The film received positive reviews upon its release. It holds a 100% fresh ratings from [[Rotten Tomatoes]] and a 7.5 average rating.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/as_i_open_my_eyes/|title=As I Open My Eyes (À peine j'ouvre les yeux)|publisher=|accessdate=22 September 2016}}</ref> The critic for ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' called it an "impressive debut" and called Medhaffer's acting "a stand-out lead perf".<ref>{{cite web|last1=WEISSBERG|first1=JAY|title=Film Review: 'As I Open My Eyes'|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/as-i-open-my-eyes-film-review-1201592203/|accessdate=19 January 2016}}</ref> A critic for [[Indiewire]] gave the film a score of A- and called it "the Best Fictional Film Yet About the Arab Spring."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Aftab|first1=Kaleem|title=Venice Review: 'As I Open My Eyes' is the Best Fictional Film Yet About the Arab Spring|url=http://www.indiewire.com/article/venice-review-as-i-open-my-eyes-is-the-best-fictional-film-yet-about-the-arab-spring-20150904|accessdate=19 January 2016}}</ref> [[The Hollywood Reporter]] was less enthused about the film criticizing its "mostly familiar notes" but praising the cinematography and acting.<ref>{{cite web|last1=van Hoeij|first1=Boyd|title='As I Open My Eyes' ('A peine j'ouvre les yeux'): Venice Review|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/as-i-open-my-eyes-819765|accessdate=19 January 2016}}</ref>
+The film received positive reviews upon its release. It holds a 100% fresh ratings from [[Rotten Tomatoes]] and a 7.5 average rating.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/as_i_open_my_eyes/|title=As I Open My Eyes (À peine j'ouvre les yeux)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=|accessdate=22 September 2016}}</ref> The critic for ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' called it an "impressive debut" and called Medhaffer's acting "a stand-out lead perf".<ref>{{cite web|last1=WEISSBERG|first1=JAY|title=Film Review: 'As I Open My Eyes'|date=29 September 2015 |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/as-i-open-my-eyes-film-review-1201592203/|accessdate=19 January 2016}}</ref> A critic for [[Indiewire]] gave the film a score of A− and called it "the Best Fictional Film Yet About the Arab Spring."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Aftab|first1=Kaleem|title=Venice Review: 'As I Open My Eyes' is the Best Fictional Film Yet About the Arab Spring|date=4 September 2015 |url=http://www.indiewire.com/article/venice-review-as-i-open-my-eyes-is-the-best-fictional-film-yet-about-the-arab-spring-20150904|accessdate=19 January 2016}}</ref> [[The Hollywood Reporter]] was less enthused about the film criticizing its "mostly familiar notes" but praising the cinematography and acting.<ref>{{cite web|last1=van Hoeij|first1=Boyd|title='As I Open My Eyes' ('A peine j'ouvre les yeux'): Venice Review|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=3 September 2015 |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/as-i-open-my-eyes-819765|accessdate=19 January 2016}}</ref>
 ==Accolades==
@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 |-
 |rowspan=2|[[21st Lumières Awards|Lumières Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle=18649483.html |title=Prix Lumières 2016 : Trois souvenirs de ma jeunesse et Mustang en tête des nominations |date=4 January 2016 |work=[[AlloCiné]]}}</ref>
-|[[Lumières Award for Most Promising Actress|Most Promising Actress]]
+|[[Lumières Award for Best Female Revelation|Best Female Revelation]]
 |Baya Medhaffar
 | {{nom}}
@@ Line 76: / Line 76: @@
 |-
 |Europa Cinemas Label Award (Venice Days)
+!
+| {{won}}
+|-
+|[[Saint-Jean-de-Luz International Film Festival]]<ref>{{cite web
+| url =https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/300019/#cm
+| title =As I Open My Eyes wins big at Saint-Jean-de-Luz
+| last =Lemercier
+| first =Fabien
+| date =2015-10-12
+| publisher =Cineuropa
+| access-date =2023-10-05}}</ref>
+|Best Film, Best Actress, Audience Award
 !
 | {{won}}
@@ Line 90: / Line 102: @@
 ==External links==
 * {{IMDb title|4400174|As I Open My Eyes}}
+{{Tunisian submissions for the Academy}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:As I Open My Eyes}}
 [[Category:2015 films]]
 [[Category:2015 drama films]]
-[[Category:French films]]
 [[Category:French drama films]]
-[[Category:Tunisian films]]
 [[Category:2010s French-language films]]
 [[Category:2015 directorial debut films]]
 [[Category:Tunisian drama films]]
+[[Category:2010s French films]]
+[[Category:French-language drama films]]

v t e Tunisian submissions for Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
1995	Le magique (1995)
2001–2020	The Magic Box (2002) As I Open My Eyes (2016) The Last of Us (2017) Beauty and the Dogs (2018) Dear Son (2019) The Man Who Sold His Skin (2020)
2021–present	Golden Butterfly (2021) Under the Fig Trees (2022) Four Daughters (2023) Take My Breath (2024)