DEAR SON

DEAR SON, 2018
Tunisia, Belgium, France, Qatar | DCP, Color, 104’ | Arabic
Director: Mohammed Ben Attia
Cast: Mohamed Dhrif, Mouna Mejri, Zakaria Ben Ayyed

Tunisian director Mohammed Ben Attia focuses on the poignant story of a father and son, in his second feature length film. The Riadh and Nazlı couple is ready to do anything for the 19 year-old Sami, their only son. Despite financial difficulties, Riadh and Nazlı work with all their strength to provide for the necessary medical assistance for Sami who is struggling with frequent headaches. However, Sami suddenly disappears. They are devastated when they find out that their son has joined a jihadist organization in Syria. At the expense of mobilizing all his means, Riadh sets out on the road in the hope of finding Sami. In Dear Son, Ben Attia focuses on the impact of loss on those who are left behind and their relationships more so than Sami who runs away to join an organization.