Harka
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLotfy Nathan
Written byLotfy Nathan
Produced by
  • Julie Viez
  • Lotfy Nathan
  • Alex Hughes
  • Riccardo Maddalosso
  • Eugene Kotlyarenko
  • Nicole Romano
  • Tariq Merhab
  • Maurice Fadida
Starring
  • Adam Bessa
  • Salima Maatoug
  • Ikbal Harbi
  • Najib Allagui
CinematographyMaximilian Pittner
Edited by
  • Sophie Corra
  • Thomas Niles
Music byEli Keszler
Production
companies
Distributed byDulac Distribution (France)
Release dates
  • 19 May 2022 (2022-05-19) (Cannes)
  • 2 November 2022 (2022-11-02) (France)
  • 11 January 2023 (2023-01-11) (Luxembourg)
Running time
90 minutes[1]
Countries
LanguageArabic[2]

Harka is an 2022 internationally co-produced drama film, written and directed by Lotfy Nathan, in his narrative directorial debut, inspired by Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation that sparked the Tunisian revolution and Arab Spring between 2010 and 2011. It stars Adam Bessa, Salima Maatoug, Ikbal Harbi and Najib Allagui.

It had its world premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on 19 May 2022, in the Un Certain Regard section, where lead actor Adam Bessa won the award for Best Performance. It was released theatrically in France by Dulac Distribution on 2 November 2022.

Plot

A young Tunisian man dreams of a better life and sells contraband petrol on the black market. When his father dies, he is left to take care of his two sisters, with eviction from their home looming.

Cast

  • Adam Bessa as Ali
  • Salima Maatoug as Alyssa
  • Ikbal Harbi as Sarra
  • Najib Allagui as Omar

Production

In July 2021, it was announced Adam Bessa had joined the cast of the film, with Lotfy Nathan directing from a screenplay he wrote.[5] The plot was inspired by Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation that sparked the Tunisian revolution and Arab Spring between 2010 and 2011.[6] The title "Harka" is translated as "burn", and it is also a Tunisian slang for a migrant who crosses the Mediterranean illegally by boat.[6]

Filming

Principal photography took place in Tunis and Sidi Bouzid in Tunisia.[4] Harka was the first feature film to be shot in the city of Sidi Bouzid, where the Tunisian Revolution started.[6] Filming took place in Tunisia during the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] Although there were no official lockdowns in the country back then, a political crisis started a few weeks into the shoot and the army removed the government from power, provoking street protests.[4] The film's cast and crew were caught in a demonstration while filming at a bus station.[4] Director Lotfy Nathan comes from a documentary background and incorporated elements of what was happening on the streets at the time into Harka, even casting non-professionals actors in some of the key roles.[4] A scene featuring a protest on the streets was filmed entirely with non-professionals.[4]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on 19 May 2022, in the Un Certain Regard section where lead actor Adam Bessa was awarded ex aequo the Best Performance Prize.[7][8] Prior to, Dulac Distribution acquired French distribution rights to the film,[9] and released it on theaters on 2 November 2022.[2] It was released in Luxembourg on 11 January 2023.[6]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 10/10.[10]

Awards and nominations

Year Award / Film Festival Category Recipient(s) Result
2022 Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard Lotfy Nathan Nominated[11]
Un Certain Regard Award for Best Performance Adam Bessa Won[8]
Saint-Jean-de-Luz Film Festival Best Male Performance Won[12]
Red Sea International Film Festival Best Feature Film Lotfy Nathan Nominated[13]
Yusr Award for Best Director Won[14]
Best Actor Adam Bessa Won[14]
2023 Lumières Award Best First Film Lotfy Nathan Nominated[15]
Most Promising Actor Adam Bessa Nominated[15]
Paris Film Critics Association Best Young Actor Nominated[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Harka". Cannes Film Festival. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Harka". Unifrance. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Harka". Cineuropa. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Macnab, Geoffrey (19 May 2022). "'Harka' producer Julie Viez on the Cannes title's exhilarating Tunisian shoot". Screen International. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  5. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (10 July 2021). "'Mosul' & 'Extraction' Star Adam Bessa To Lead 'Contra', Shoot Underway In Tunisia For Cinenovo, Anonymous Content, Film Constellation, More — Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Okorodus, Abigail (14 December 2022). "Luxembourg co-production Harka in cinemas from January". Delano.
  7. ↑ Lattanzio, Ryan (21 April 2022). "Cannes 2022 Adds Competition Titles, Special Screenings: See the Full Lineup". IndieWire. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  8. 1 2 "The 75th Festival de Cannes winners' list". Festival de Cannes. 28 May 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  9. ↑ Tabbara, Mona (10 May 2022). "Cannes Un Certain Regard title 'Harka' picked up for France, first look revealed (exclusive)". Screen International. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  10. ↑ "Harka". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  11. ↑ "The films of the Official Selection 2022 - Festival de Cannes". festival-cannes.com. 14 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "Le Palmarès 2022". Festival International du Film de Saint-Jean-de-Luz (in French). Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  13. ↑ "Red Sea: Competition | 2022 Films". redseafilmfest.com. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  14. 1 2 Ntim, Zac (8 December 2022). "Red Sea Film Festival Winners: 'Hanging Gardens' By Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji Takes Best Film Award". Deadline Hollywood.
  15. 1 2 Baronnet, Brigitte (15 December 2022). "Nominations Prix Lumières 2023 : La Nuit du 12 part en tête". AlloCiné (in French).
  16. ↑ "Nominations 2023 | Paris Film Critics Association". Paris Film Critics Association. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
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