Restoration of a Tunisian Classic: "L'Homme de Cendres" Returns to Theaters
Released in 1986, "L'Homme de Cendres" (Rih Essed) won the Tanit d'Or at the Carthage Film Festival and was selected for the official competition at the Cannes Film Festival the same year. It was the first feature film by Nouri Bouzid and the first film produced by the late Ahmed Bahaeddine Attia, with cinematography by Youssef Ben Youssef and editing by Mika Ben Miled.
A New Life for a Classic Film
After its world premiere in June at the 39th Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival in Bologna, the restored version of "L'Homme de Cendres" is set to return to Tunisian theaters starting November 12. This restoration is the result of a collaboration between the Cineteca di Bologna, the Cinematek of Brussels, and Cinétéléfilms, with the support of the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Distribution in theaters is handled by Hakka Distribution.
A Press Screening and Homage to Nouri Bouzid
Prior to its national premiere, a press screening was held on Tuesday morning at the Tahar Cheriaâ hall of the Tunisian Cinémathèque, attended by director Nouri Bouzid, accompanied by his two daughters. Guests included some of the film's protagonists, such as filmmaker Salma Baccar, who was the first assistant director on set, and Souad Ben Slimane, one of the film's actresses.
A Groundbreaking Film
For those who do not know the film (a 1h49 fiction), including younger generations, "L'Homme de Cendres" is a groundbreaking work that addresses the sexual trauma of two young men, Hachmi and Farfat, who were raped by their carpenter boss in their childhood. Hachemi, who is about to get married, is suddenly shaken by the resurgence of this trauma. Everything is called into question, between this tragic and secret past and a present that cannot escape the obsessive return to this irreparable rift. The action takes place in Sfax and leads to an analysis of certain social behaviors in a plethora of colorful and representative characters.
Restoration and Preservation
Forty years after its release, this iconic film regains its original luster thanks to Ciné-Sud Patrimoine and the meticulous work of experts from the L'Immagine Ritrovata laboratory at the Bologna Cinémathèque. This restoration would not have been possible without the perseverance of Mohamed Challouf, co-founder of Ciné-Sud Patrimoine, who championed this initiative with conviction. Beyond the rehabilitation of precious cinematic heritage, this screening is also a tribute to Nouri Bouzid, a major figure in Tunisian and Arab cinema, who is currently away from film sets due to health reasons.
Raising Awareness about Film Preservation
The screening also puts the issue of preserving Tunisian cinematic memory and the preservation of a set of foundational works that require urgent intervention to be restored and made accessible to the public back at the center of the debate. As a continuation of this event, a meeting to raise awareness and exchange ideas about film restoration was organized on the same day by the ECHOS Cinématographiques association and Hakka Distribution. On this occasion, Céline Pozzi, project manager at the L'Immagine Ritrovata laboratory, discussed the restoration process of the film and the challenges of preserving Tunisian cinematic heritage with Mohamed Challouf. This was also an opportunity to learn about the different stages of restoring a cinematic work, as well as the numerous projects carried out by the Cineteca di Bologna.
