This film wistfully evokes the memories of a bygone time and place in a seaside quarter of French Tunisia. For a brief period after World War II the population of French Jews, Italian Christians and Arab muslims appeared to coexist in a cohesive society that had formed over a hundred years. In this setting 3 young female friends (one from each aforementioned segment of society) make a pact to "lose it" by the end of the summer. However, on the eve of Tunisian Independence from France and the ramifications of living in a Muslim Arab country as opposed to a secular "Western" colony, each citizen is forced to look at the reality of their place in society. The film goes out of its way to show that everyone is the same deep down; that there are basic needs, desires and short-comings that define all humans. This, coupled with the fact that the citizenry seem to describe La Goulette as "paradise" (it was far from it...I know this first hand) simply make this film come off as the fanciful reminiscing of an old man talking about a "lost time and place" which actually never existed. Mediocre acting, but great cinematography.
Review of A Summer in La Goulette
