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Have you seen Arab Blues (2019)?

Yes

Haven’t even heard of this movie

Voting ended onNov 5, 2025

#movies #polls #arab blues #arab blues 2019 #arab blues movie #2010s movies #manele labidi #golshifteh farahani #hichem yacoubi #majd mastoura #aïsha ben miled #ramla ayari #requested #have you seen this movie poll

I liked the part with the Tunisian version of Junior from The Sopranos. Not a whole lot actually happened in Arab Blues. The central conflic

I liked the part with the Tunisian version of Junior from The Sopranos.

Not a whole lot actually happened in Arab Blues. The central conflict of the story was that Selma (Golshifteh Farahani) couldn't obtain a license to practice psychiatry in Tunisia, but after her attempts to either navigate the bureaucracy or protest it failed, it just sort of resolved itself and the movie ended? Maybe I missed something, but it really seemed like the final approval for her license came at random.

A few of the many cartoonish side characters and situations were actually fun. Selma's rebellious cousin Olfa (Aïsha Ben Miled) was more interesting and likeable than most, but sadly didn't get a lot to do. I loved how the one guy who claimed to know kung-fu actually ended up proving he did. It could have done without the transphobic panic scene in the bath house being played for laughs.

The script alternated between trying too hard to be quirky and paying the shallowest of lip service to serious issues. Worse still was the romantic subplot; So profoundly unromantic that to be quite honest I'm not certain that's what it was. The final scene of the movie was especially confusing; I'm not at all sure what happened there, and I'm even less sure of why.

One thing is for sure though: Golshifteh Farahani gave a great, charming performance, essentially carrying the entire movie. She also looked unbelievably fine in a dress shirt with messy hair. Whatever the movie's shortcomings, it at least has that going for it. I'm adding a bonus half star just for her.

Not very good, unfortunately, because I feel like it could have been.

#arab blues #arab blues 2019 #un divan à tunis #movie review