Ismail Louati, Tunisia
SYNOPSIS
In 2001, in the red-light district of Tunis, Hayet is born. Her mother is stabbed to death on the very bed where she has just given birth. Hayet is raised by Kmar, a sex worker, and Fatma, a madam. She grows up confined within the district, finding solace only on the rooftops of the old city and in the company of Sboui, a talking cat.
During the 2011 revolution, Hayet and Sboui escape and find themselves fending for themselves in a city caught in political turmoil. By 2033, Hayet, now living on the streets, surviving on begging and petty theft, meets Wahid, a younger man who is less accustomed to life on the margins. After a violent first encounter, the two slowly learn to trust each other, under the jealous gaze of Sboui, who struggles to break the growing bond between them. Together, Hayet and Wahid discover human connection and emotions, while trying to overcome the harsh reality of their lives. But Samy, a brilliant yet relentless police officer, is hot on their trail…
BIOGRAPHY
Ismaël Louati is a filmmaker, visual artist, and writer. His works include Babylon (Grand Prize, FID Marseille 2012), Leila’s Blues (Directors’ Fortnight, Cannes 2018), Fragments of Self-Phone-Destruction (Awarded at the Festival des Cinémas Différents et Expérimentaux de Paris, 2019), Black Medusa (Tiger Competition, IFFR 2021), and Hackers of the Borders (Documentary Competition, JCC 2024). He has also worked as a producer on several projects.