La source des femmes (2011)

A comedy/drama set in a village and centered on a battle of the sexes, where women threaten to withhold sexual favors if their men refuse to fetch water from a remote well.

Director:

Radu Mihaileanu

Writers:

Radu Mihaileanu (scenario), Alain-Michel Blanc (scenario)

Stars:

Leïla Bekhti, Hafsia Herzi, Hiam Abbass

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leïla Bekhti	...	Leila
Hafsia Herzi	...	Loubna / Esmeralda
Hiam Abbass	...	Fatima
Saleh Bakri	...	Sami
Biyouna	...	Vieux Fusil
Sabrina Ouazani	...	Rachida
Karim Leklou	...	Karim
Mohamed Majd	...	Hussein
Mohamed Tsouli	...	L'imam
Omar Azzouzi	...	Le cheikh
Saad Tsouli	...	Mohamed
Amal Chakir	...	Khadija
Amina Boussaif	...	Nawale
Nadia Zaoui	...	Yasmina
Farida Bouaazaoui	...	Karima

Storyline

In a remote and primitive patriarchal village between the North of Africa and the Middle East, the land has dried and the women traditionally bring water from a distant fountain to their houses while the idle husbands drink tea in the bar. The educated Leïla, who is the wife of the local teacher Sami, begins a sex strike movement among the women, supported by the elder Vieux Fusil (meaning old flintlock), to force the men to bring water to the village. They must face the strong reaction of the brutal men.

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Plot Keywords:

woman | water | village | well | sex strike | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Europa Corp. [France]

Country:

France Belgium Italy

Language:

Arabic

Release Date:

2 November 2011 (France)

Also Known As:

A Fonte das Mulheres

Filming Locations:

Morocco

Company Credits

Production Co:

Elzévir Films,Oï Oï Oï Productions,EuropaCorp

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min 120 min (UK)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The basic premise of the plot, the withholding of sexual relations by women to force their menfolk to do something, is first noted in the play, 'Lysistrata' by Aristophanes. Several versions of "Lysistrata" have been filmed for cinemas and television, with the most recent being Chi-Raq (2015) by Spike Lee.

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Soundtracks

Aïn Zoura
Traditional
Performed by Mohamed Laaroussi

User Reviews

a beautiful overview of rebellion, love and freedom.

Beautiful film screening, the actors' performances were genuine, real and beautiful. the movie conveys a message that is going in the whole middle east and north africa, the reality that blends traditional ideas and connection, with the demand of democracy, equal rights and a rebellion on parts of this same tradition, love, rebellion, attachment to the homeland, and the detachment at the same time, all was beautifully expressed in this story, in a funny, interacting way. Recommended :)