Slim’s third feature fiction, presented at the 2023 Atlas Workshops at Marrakech Film Festival, focuses on a remote town in Tunisia where missing people return after many years.
Tunisian filmmaker Ala Eddine Slim’s third feature film, Agora, is set to have its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival in the International Competition on August 14. The French-Tunisian co-production, backed by Julie Viez’s Cinenovo and Slim’s Exit Productions, has secured 80% of its $743,000 budget.
Agora explores a mysterious phenomenon in a remote Tunisian town where people who had gone missing for years suddenly return. These returnees stir tensions among families and the wider community, prompting local police inspector Fathi and his doctor friend Amine to investigate. The situation becomes increasingly strange and complex, particularly with the arrival of Omar, a police inspector from the capital, who attempts to unravel the mystery.
Slim describes Agora as a reflection on the past, resurfacing painful memories and societal failures. The film delves into themes of family and community conflict, and the tension between urban life and nature. Slim emphasises the symbolic significance of the city’s public square, where key decisions about the returnees are made. The film also features a visual narrative with special effects and makeup, blending elements of a thriller and investigative story.
Slim, who also produced the film, sees Agora as a continuation of his previous works, exploring recurring motifs such as the city, the forest and animals. The film addresses contemporary issues such as economic, social, health and security challenges, mirroring the complex realities of today’s Tunisia.
