Fares (Sami Bouajila) and Meriam (Najla Ben Abdallah) seem to have it all: a strong marriage, a delightful 10-year-old son, fruitful careers and a fun group of friends. But while on the road to a family weekend getaway, their car is caught in an ambush and their son, Aziz, is struck by a bullet. In his feature debut, Mehdi Barsaoui depicts a tragic event that uncovers even more complex and knotty issues. His camera captures the growing fracture of his two main characters by isolating them within the frame, and his deft screenplay never dwells on superficial narrative elements. As Fares and Meriam see their life exploding, they are forced to expose their true sides, and in their time of desperation resort to making rash decisions. Bouajila and Ben Abdallah portray the central couple, whose two pillars — their son and their marriage — are in mortal danger, with a devastating and heartbreaking authenticity.

Winner: Best Actor — Horizons, Venice

In competition for the New Voices New Visions Award