Tunisian film Dachra Director Abdelhamid Bouchnak was screened at the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) in the new “midnight projections” section.
Dachrafirst Tunisian horror film, had also been scheduled for the 29thth edition of Carthage’s cinematographic days (JCC) and had been The closing film of the 33rd week of the criticism of the Venice Mostra in September 2018.
Synopsis:
Yasmine, Walid and Bilel, three young journalism students will have to make a documentary at the request of their teacher. Following the suggestion of one of them, they will try to resolve a news item which dates back to twenty years: a woman had been found half slaughtered on the road. Since then, suspected of witchcraft, she has been interned in a psychiatric asylum, without anyone having ever been able to know who she was or what had happened to her. As they continue their investigation, the three friends fall into the archaic and disturbing world of Dachra, an isolated hamlet filled with goats, silent women, mysterious meat drying and smoking pots. They are invited to spend the night with the chef’s chef but threatening. Little by little, Yasmine will discover the secrets of Dachra…
The film keeps in suspense. At no time can we detach our attention. The story takes place little by little, adding elements of twist each time, to the end completely unexpected!
Even if the script is borrowed from the film the Blair Witch project, Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez in 1999, Abdelhamid Bouchnak explained that to write it, he was inspired by several real facts that occurred in Tunisia and in particular a murder that happened about 4 years ago: an uncle, with the complicity of the aunt, killed a little boy, to offer him in sacrifice to the Djin, goalkeeper they wanted to appropriate. This little boy was wrong to have a task/brand in the eye. We can only imagine worse to kill a little boy to discover a treasure!
During the debate that followed the projection, the director answered some questions asked by the spectators.
Why did you make this film?
I wanted, through this film, to denounce these ridiculous, inhuman and barbaric practices (witchcraft, superstitions …) which still exist in 2018 in Tunisia and which make a large number of victims each year.
Although they have no meaning or respond to any logic, these beliefs are very widespread, including with people who could be said to be educated and who nevertheless consult the various lights, mediums and sorcerers to ask them for as silly things as a husband returning or throwing a spell on a person.
I would like Tunisian public opinion to be aware of what is going on and Tunisians end these insane and sometimes murderous practices.
Why did you choose to make a horror film?
The genre has imposed itself almost naturally while I was writing the scenario. I wanted to tell a story that included horror elements, I said to myself: why not make the first Tunisian horror film?
I was afraid I admit it. I did not know if I would be able to convince the spectators. Besides, I was very careful with the smallest details. For example, to choose the blood used, I wanted it to be as close as possible to the real blood. I had used real hoses … I wanted it to be really real.
I’m happy to have succeeded. When I see the public frightened, I’m happy.
Why did you choose these actors unknown to the public?
First of all, I wanted actors whose faces were not very known to the public, so that they were more credible.
Then, although they were my friends, I chose them because I was sure they could perfectly embody the characters in my film. And as my film is self -funded, I was entirely free of my choices.
Are you going to continue making horror movies?
My next film will be a comedy.
I would like to try several kinds of films, the essential is that my film is sincere.
The most important thing is to make the film you want to make and that’s what I would always do.
Neïla Driss
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