A Summer in La Goulette (1996)
"Un été à La Goulette" (original title)

Summer, 1967. La Goulette, the touristic beach of Tunisi, is the site where three nice seventeen-year-old girls live: Gigi, sicilian and catholic; Meriem, Tunisian and Arab; Tina, French ... See full summary »

Director:

Férid Boughedir

Writers:

Férid Boughedir, Nouri Bouzid

Stars:

Sonia Mankaï, Ava Cohen-Jonathan, Sarah Pariente

3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Sonia Mankaï	...	Meriem
Ava Cohen-Jonathan	...	Tina
Sarah Pariente	...	Gigi
Mustapha Adouani	...	Youssef
Guy Nataf	...	Jojo
Ivo Salerno	...	Giuseppe
Gamil Ratib	...	Hadj Beji
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cybelle Agha	...	Mery Glass
Fatima Ben Saïdane	...	Taita
Hatem Berrabeh	...	Salvatore
Michel Boujenah	...	Himself
Claudia Cardinale	...	Herself
Hélène Catzaras	...	Lucia
Hayde Chikly
Mohammed Driss	...	Miró

Storyline

Summer, 1967. La Goulette, the touristic beach of Tunisi, is the site where three nice seventeen-year-old girls live: Gigi, sicilian and catholic; Meriem, Tunisian and Arab; Tina, French and Jewish. They would like to have their first sexual experience during that summer, challenging their families. Their fathers, Youssef, Jojo and Giuseppe, are old friends and their friendship will be in crisis because of the girls, while Hadj, an old rich Arab, would like to marry Meriem.

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Plot Keywords:

1960s | sexuality | teen | love | muslim | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Tunisia France Belgium

Language:

French Arabic Italian

Release Date:

25 December 1996 (France)

Also Known As:

A Summer in La Goulette

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+, Cinares production, La Sept Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

A thought provoking movie.

This film, although pleasant enough seems to start at a really slow pace. One may find themselves wondering when it will manage to get to its 'point' as it were. The film shows the harmony between a community of Muslims, Jews and Christians in a small town in Tunisia. A Summer in Gaulette manages to nicely give a sense of community that transcends religious barriers, focusing on Youssef (muslim), Giuseppe (catholic), Jojo (jewish)and their three daughters. Their acceptance of the other religions around them are put to the test when their daughters are found to be interested in boys from other religious backgrounds. It manages to make us question how tolerant we really are, and the strength of friendship when fundamental beliefs are tested. In light of this film's rather heavy undertone Boughedir still manages to add elements of comedy and a rite of passage aspect in regard to the daughters. In spite of the comedy at the very end of the film a tragic and rather sobering fact is introduced. As their 'tolerant'microcosm will face its biggest threat from the world outside. Youssef, Jojo and Giuseppe's friendship faces their biggest test yet.