Satin Rouge, a widow's brave journey

Satin Rouge (2002) depicting a widowed Tunisian seamstress taking an unlikely journey of self-discovery screens at 3 pm on Tuesday May 29 and 6.30 pm Wednesday May 30.

Written and directed by Raja Amari, a Tunisian making her feature debut showcases for lead actress Hiam Abbass, transforming from a shy widow to a free-spirited, still strikingly attractive woman who becomes a professional belly dancer.

In Arabic with English subtitles, the uncluttered scenario unfolds at the pace of real life as we're introduced to Lilia (Abbass) going through her routines with little enthusiasm. Part of the problem is she is stuck alone in the house, while her teenage daughter Salma (Hend El Fahem) is in school.

Indeed, it's when Lilia suspects that Salma has a boyfriend and follows him that her stagnant life changes spectacularly.

Chokri (Maher Kamoun) is a musician in both the classes Salma attends and the cabaret where Lilia follows him to. He's somewhere of age between the mother and the daughter, and he falls unwittingly in love with both. Although it is not altogether clearly her intention, when Lilia becomes more serious and passionate about dancing, she and Chokri have intensely intimate moments in the process of performing, moments that lead to you-know-what.

The way Lilia loosens up and learns to dance enticingly for men in a timeless ritual that is empowering and not demeaning is "Satin" at its most engaging, with veteran dancer Folla (Monia Hichri) playing the kind of instant friend and tutor who helps propel the movie into truly wondrous territory.

The official Selection, Berlin Film Festival the film has reached several international heights including Public Prize for the Best African Film at the Montréal World Film Festival- 2002 and New Director's Showcase Award at the Seattle International Film Festival- 2002.