FNC 2023: Four Daughters (by Kaouther Ben Hania) | Review

Four Daughters ingeniously merges fiction and documentary to give voice to the heart-wrenching confessions of a Tunisian family, whose eldest daughters joined Daesh.

The 52nd Festival du Nouveau Cinéma promises a cinematic feast with some of the year’s finest offerings, including standout films from Cannes, such as the powerful Four Daughters (Les filles d’Olfa), by Kaouther Ben Hania.

In the realm of contemporary documentary filmmaking, Four Daughters emerges as a luminous gem that transcends boundaries. At its core, the film navigates the harrowing story of Olfa, a mother of four daughters, two of whom, Ghofrane and Rahma, vanished into the shadows of Daesh at a tender age. In this daring cinematic endeavor, Ben Hania’s narrative brilliance intertwines with an unflinching sense of purpose, delicately exposing the poignant intricacies of a mother’s guilt and a family’s tumultuous odyssey.

The film’s audacious narrative structure serves as a masterstroke, initially shrouded in the complexities of a film within a film—a layered narrative device that at first glance might raise eyebrows. However, as the story unfolds, the brilliance of this choice comes into sharp focus. The three distinct narrative strata it employs—reality (where characters confess to the camera, unfiltered), the behind-the-scenes preparation for the film within the film (where characters provide introspective insights), and finally, fiction as a reenactment of pivotal moments in Olfa and her daughters’ lives—merge seamlessly to form a compelling narrative mosaic.

What makes this narrative device truly exceptional is its ability to coax forth raw, authentic, and emotionally charged revelations from the characters. Rather than relying solely on direct testimonies, the film’s layers provide a rich and evocative tapestry that pulls the audience deep into the emotional core of the story. The process of filming the ‘film within the film’ acts as a catalyst, creating an atmosphere where the real-life sisters and Olfa herself are compelled to speak and lay bare their experiences.

One cannot help but be struck by the remarkable performances in the film. The actresses enlisted by Ben Hania to portray the elder sisters and even Olfa herself in the most challenging and traumatic sequences display astonishing depth and sensitivity. Beyond their roles as actors, these individuals also serve as agents of reflection, facilitating moments of self-awareness among the characters. Hend Sabri, in her portrayal of Olfa, particularly shines, fearlessly confronting her character’s actions and contradictions. These poignant moments in the film offer a rare glimpse into the characters’ past, allowing them to confront years of their own lives, confront festering wounds, and shed light on the path that led the elder sisters to radicalization and betrayal.

Four Daughters is an emotional rollercoaster, traversing moments of pure joy, as the sisters reminisce about the happier times of their childhood and sisterly bonds, and heart-wrenching episodes, such as the departure of the elder sisters and the abuse suffered during their formative years at the hands of both their father and their mother’s partner.

Beyond its compelling narrative, the film also offers a nuanced exploration of the intricate relationship between young women navigating their identity formation and the complexities of religion, its imperatives, constraints, and societal pressures. It adeptly portrays their oscillation between rejection and embrace of religious tenets, illustrating how the elder sisters gradually descended into a more radical form of practice, inadvertently influencing their younger siblings. For them, religion, in its most profound expression, became a path to liberation.

Kaouther Ben Hania’s direction is nothing short of remarkable, seamlessly blending cinematic craftsmanship with a profound understanding of her characters’ traumas. The narrative structure, initially questioned, ultimately proves its worth, unveiling the characters’ deepest emotions and experiences in an evocative and powerful manner.

In sum, Four Daughters is a triumph in documentary filmmaking. Through its innovative narrative layers, it captivates, enlightens, and challenges its characters and the audience. The film’s powerful storytelling and emotional resonance firmly establish it as a cinematic tour de force. It is no surprise that Four Daughters claimed the Oeil d’Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, even though it would have been entirely deserving the Palme d’Or.