Four Daughters
Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania
This riveting exploration of rebellion, memory, and sisterhood reconstructs the story of Olfa Hamrouni and her four daughters, unpacking a complex family history through intimate interviews and performance to examine how the Tunisian woman’s two eldest were radicalized by Islamic extremists. Casting professional actresses as the missing daughters, along with acclaimed Egyptian-Tunisian actress Hend Sabri as Olfa, award-winning director Kaouther Ben Hania (The Man Who Sold His Skin) restages pivotal moments in the family’s life. These scenes are interwoven with confessions and reflections from Olfa and her younger daughters, offering the women agency to tell their own story and capturing moments of joy, loss, violence, and heartache. Winner of four prizes including L’Oeil d'Or (Best Documentary) when it screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, Four Daughters is a compelling portrait of five women and a unique and ambitious work of nonfiction cinema that explores the nature of memory, the weight of inherited trauma, and the ties that bind mothers and daughters.
Reviews
“A revelatory, poignant blend of drama, memory, and self-scrutiny."
“Formally daring, emotionally gripping…a heartbreaker about mothers and daughters, the cruelty of repression and the slippery but revealing nature of performance.”
“An enthralling narrative about memory, motherhood and the inherited traumas of a patriarchal society."
“An admirable film. And through it all, Huppert still finds subtle ways to disappear into and elevate the narrative.”
"A daring and emotional act of cinematic… healing. Cathartic, affecting and original."
“A fascinating, gripping watch. A rare and deeply penetrating film.”
“Genuinely hard to forget. It will linger with you for days afterward.”
“A distinctive, daring and original work.”
“Takes us into the intimate, inner circle of family ties to tell a larger story of our time.”
“Utterly transfixing …an exhilarating confrontation between truth and performance.”
“Compelling, ambitious … a therapeutic exercise, and a commentary on the filmmaking process itself.”
“Shows the intrinsic complexity of human behavior, the stark truths of living within complex realities, and the glimmer of hope that circles of trauma can be overcome by new generations”
