“ARAB BLUES”
(Un divan à Tunis)
by director MANELE LABIDI
starring GOLSHIFTEH FARAHANI
AVAILABLE STARTING FRIDAY, JULY 31
Toronto – TIFF Bell Lightbox
Following its Venice Film Festival World Premiere and North American Premiere at TIFF in 2019 Manele Labidi’s ARAB BLUES begins streaming July 31, 2020 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.
ARAB BLUES follows Selma, a psychoanalyst (Golshifteh Farahani, also seen in ‘Paterson’) who deals with a cast of colourful new patients after returning home to Tunisia from Paris to open a practice.
In this sophisticated comedy, Manele Labidi opens a fascinating window into modern Tunisia at a crossroads, with a story of contrasts, contradictions and culture clashes, full of vitality and humour.
TIFF Programmer Kiva Reardon wrote, “Farahani hits all of the comic beats and deftly inhabits a character, who above all, wants to do what’s right. Arab Blues develops with an irresistible charm.”
About the Director
Franco-Tunisian director and screenwriter Manele Labidi was born in Paris. After studying political science, she worked in finance before writing for theatre,radio and television. Her first short film, Une chamber a moi (2018) is a tragicomic variation around Virginia Wolf’s essay A Room of One’s Own. “Arab Blues” (Un divan àTunis) is her first feature film.
Running time: 88 minutes
French and Arabic with English and French subtitles
Download hi-res photos and trailer
DIGITAL TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
HOW TO ACCESS “ARAB BLUES” ON DIGITAL TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
Sign up for an account at digital.tiff.net
Select “Arab Blues”
Enter your payment information
Enjoy the show! (film is available to view for 48 hr from the point of purchase to watch as often as you like)
Viewing and system requirements are available here.
Apps for viewing are under development and will be available in the near future.
About Films We Like
Founded by award-winning documentary filmmaker Ron Mann (Grass, Comic Book Confidential, Carmine Street Guitars) Films We Like is a boutique distributor of documentary, independent, and international films in Canada. Recent releases include What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael, The Grey Fox and Made in Bangladesh.
Media contact:
Virginia Kelly
V Kelly & Associates
Running time: 88 minutes
France 2019
French/Arabic with English subtitles
Trailer
Official Clip
https://deadline.com/video/arab-blues-goshifteh-farahani-venice-film-festival/
To download hi-res photos, clips, press notes: http://www.filmswelike.com/films/arab-blues
About Films We Like
Founded by award-winning documentary filmmaker Ron Mann (Grass, Comic Book Confidential, Carmine Street Guitars) Films We Like is a boutique distributor of documentary, independent, and international films in Canada. Recent releases include Echo in the Canyon, Paris is Burning and Barbara Rubin and the Exploding NY Underground.
Media Contact
VKPR
Virginia Kelly Virginia@vkpr.ca
TIFF screening