Beauty and the Dogs (2017)
Runtime: 100 minutes
Synopsis: During a student party, Mariam, a young Tunisian woman, meets the mysterious Youssef and leaves with him. A long night will begin, during which she'll have to fight for her rights and her dignity. But how can Justice be made when it lies on the side of the tormentors?
Performances: 8/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Editing: 9/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Editing: 9/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Verdict: Beauty refers to Mariam, a 21-year-old Tunisian student who, like many women of the same age, enjoys going out with her friends to party, dance, and let some steam off. Dogs, on the other hand, is, in my opinion, a flattering word alluding to the disgusting policemen who sexually assaulted her, and every single person who attempted to cover them up or looked down on the victim in the traumatic aftermath of the incident.
Together, they make up the title of one of the most devastating films I have seen recently. Devastating because it depresses me to know for a fact that there are people walking among us who will watch it and, just like the figurative dogs in the movie, blame Mariam for what happened to her instead of the real monsters. Devastating because it's something that sadly happens on a daily basis, not only in Tunisia but all over the world, and being a passive viewer of the trauma endured by Mariam will boil the blood of any half-decent human being.
"Beauty and the Dogs" is undeniably a difficult watch but is made efficient by director Kaouther Ben Hania's delicate handling of the topic and actress Mariam Al Ferjani's flawless interpretation of the main character. She displays strong hints of fragility, distress, and even shame, but underneath it all, you can still see the strong student determined to take down the people that wronged her, despite sensing that the entire world has turned its back on her.
Impressively shot in only 9 uninterrupted takes, "Beauty and the Dogs" is unfortunately based on true events, but acts as a strong reminder of the blind eye turned on victims of sexual assault. It's not an easy watch, but I definitely consider it an essential one. It's available as of now on Netflix.
Together, they make up the title of one of the most devastating films I have seen recently. Devastating because it depresses me to know for a fact that there are people walking among us who will watch it and, just like the figurative dogs in the movie, blame Mariam for what happened to her instead of the real monsters. Devastating because it's something that sadly happens on a daily basis, not only in Tunisia but all over the world, and being a passive viewer of the trauma endured by Mariam will boil the blood of any half-decent human being.
"Beauty and the Dogs" is undeniably a difficult watch but is made efficient by director Kaouther Ben Hania's delicate handling of the topic and actress Mariam Al Ferjani's flawless interpretation of the main character. She displays strong hints of fragility, distress, and even shame, but underneath it all, you can still see the strong student determined to take down the people that wronged her, despite sensing that the entire world has turned its back on her.
Impressively shot in only 9 uninterrupted takes, "Beauty and the Dogs" is unfortunately based on true events, but acts as a strong reminder of the blind eye turned on victims of sexual assault. It's not an easy watch, but I definitely consider it an essential one. It's available as of now on Netflix.
FINAL GRADE: 8/10
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