It's a risky proposition for any filmmaker to blend reality with invented elements, particularly when doing so risks confusing audiences or damaging believability. And in this latest film from writer-director Kaouther Bin Hania, that’s precisely what happens. This story, based on actual events, centers on Olfa Hamrouni, a Tunisian mother who experiences the devastating loss of her two older daughters, Ghofrane and Rahma, after they are drawn into ISIL recruitment efforts. At the same time, she's desperately trying to shield her younger children, Eya and Tayssir, from suffering a similar fate. The film has difficulty constructing a clear narrative, struggling to present a unified account. It awkwardly combines interviews with family members alongside dramatic recreations of key moments, using actors to portray those involved—some of whom strangely take on multiple roles. What’s worse, the movie contains an excessive amount of unnecessary content and noticeable omissions that frequently leave viewers puzzled about how one event connects to the next, sometimes presenting what seem like opposing viewpoints. There's also a significant piece of information revealed quite late in the film, with very little background provided beforehand, contributing to this fragmented sense of storytelling. The result is an uneven presentation of what seems to be a deeply emotional and important story that warrants greater clarity and a more polished final product. Furthermore, the movie incorporates a substantial amount of footage about its own production process—a mildly engaging detail that would probably work better as a supplementary feature but ultimately disrupts the film's momentum. Considering all this, I’m baffled by the level of praise and recognition this “documentary” (and I use that word cautiously) has received, especially in film festivals and awards competitions. Bin Hania is undeniably a skilled filmmaker—particularly when working with purely fictional stories, like her acclaimed Oscar-nominated film, "The Man Who Sold His Skin" (2020)—but she seems overwhelmed by this project. It’s disappointing because Olfa's story appears to be one that deserves to be told well and isn’t given the respect it merits here.

Source on TMDB