Selected in the Horizons competition of the Arab cinema of the 44th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), the Tunisian documentary “I will come back there”, directed by Yassine Redissi, tells the story of Henri Tibi, a singer of La Goulette who sings his love of Tunisia from a street in France, and a video of which was widely shared on Youtube and The enthusiasm of many Tunisians, including Yassine.
Later, while by chance, he leaned a book on La Goulette, Yassine found this same singer and had wanted to know a little more about him. Intrigued by the history of this man who expresses so much love and nostalgia for her country of origin, Yassine has decided to dig more and make a film to explore the life of this man more in depth. The result is a work that goes far beyond the simple biography of Henri Tibi. Indeed, the film I will come back there Allows us to discover different levels of reading, ranging from man’s life to the history and identity of Tunisia.
The filmmaker started the project in 2016 by reaching out to Mustapha Chalbi, the author of the book, with whom he started his first interview, which launched a seven -year trip for the realization of I will come back there. Despite the fact that he had to finance the film largely himself and that he carried out most of the tasks alone (writing, realization, editing, subtitling in French and English), the young director was motivated by the history which touched him personally and of which he was sure that she will also touch the Tunisian public in general.
Now what a nice surprise to see that outside of Tunisians, I will come back there Could also move strangers, and that’s what happened during the screening of the film at the Cairo International Film Festival. Indeed, I will come back there was very successful during his four projections as part of this festival. The mouth in ears, from the first, attracted moviegoers and cinema professionals, who came in very large numbers to discover this touching and touching film.
A debate had followed the first of the film in the CIFF:
Here is the opinion of Mina El Naggar, director, actor and Co -founder of the Medfest Festival:
It is Amir Ramses, CIFF Director Generalwho personally selected the film to be presented at the festival. Indeed, I will come back there is part of the same line and theme as its own documentary feature films Jews of Egypt I and II (2013 and 2014). These three films pay tribute to a bright period in the history of Egypt and Tunisia, where the different communities cohabited peacefully.
I will come back there First of all, we make us discover Henri Tibi, an extraordinary character, who devoted almost all his life to Tunisia, his native country, of which he was more than atmosphere and which he hoped to see one day, and to his animals for which he had made a lot of sacrifices. He had chosen to live as a street singer, a acrobat, a hippie somewhere, preferring freedom at all costs rather than financial security. The documentary makes it possible to get to know this colorful character, through the songs, the texts and the thousands of photos he left. Without forgetting the memories of his former friends and even of the people he met in France.
Then, the film presents a section of the history of Tunisia, through the eyes of Henri Tibi and the people who rubbed shoulders with it. It shows an era during which Tunisia was a country where Muslim, Jewish, Arab, Berber, Maltese, Italian, Sicilian and others communities could coexist together, in a peaceful, friendly, even family atmosphere. It is a Tunisia of conviviality, tolerance and living together that we discover, a Tunisia that our parents told us, but that we have not necessarily known. The film allows us to see that this Tunisia was not a dream, but a reality.
Finally, the film tells how Yassine, and his friend Slim Ben Ammar, whom he trained with him in his adventure, decided to resuscitate a cultural and intangible heritage of Tunisia following the discovery of this video. They have devoted several years of their lives to the search for Henri Tibi, to the understanding of his time and his music, to bring them back through songs, texts, photos and documentary. They thus created a link between past generations, current generations and perhaps even future, so that Tunisia never loses its identity and its history. And who knows, their experience may serve as an example for other young Tunisians, who could do the same and to discover Tunisian artists or personalities unknown to the general public, but who have made a great contribution to Tunisian culture?!
Actually, I will come back there is a documentary that allows you to discover different facets of Tunisia. It is interesting to see how these young Tunisians appropriated the history of their country, how they wanted to revive it through an atypical character like Henri Tibi. This film is a tribute to Tunisia and its culture. But he is also somewhere universal, which perhaps explains the success he had with the Egyptian public who felt the emotion released by this film, understood and joined it. The applause at the end of the projection and the debates that followed testify.
I will come back there should not only be scheduled in cinemas, but should also be in all cultural spaces, schools, high schools and universities in the country. It should be followed by debates, to allow young people to discover this history of their country and make them want to follow the example of this young director. This would also allow this youth to understand the importance of preserving cultural heritage, whether material or intangible, and to know how to transmit it to future generations and allow Tunisia to preserve its identity.
Neïla Driss
