Exile
Fall Grants 2024 - Post-Production Stage
Mehdi Hmili / Feature Narrative / Tunisia, France, Luxembourg, Qatar / 123 min / Original Language: Arabic / Interests: Thriller, Social Issues, Fantasy
Synopsis
“In an industrial world scarred by tragedy, Mohamed, a worker at the country’s largest steel factory—a national enterprise teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and imminent privatisation—embarks on an unyielding quest for truth and justice. Marked by an accident that claimed the life of his friend Adel, Mohamed is left with a piece of metal lodged in his head, which begins to rust slowly. Demoted from his position at the steel mill to that of a watchman, he confronts loss, isolation, and a conspiracy that reaches far beyond the factory walls.
As the rust spreads through his body, Mohamed undergoes a physical metamorphosis, gradually transforming into a man of rust. This haunting change symbolises both his decay and his unyielding resilience. Driven by his desperate search for answers, Mohamed faces dark forces, assumes a new identity, and risks his own life. Through internal struggles, violent confrontations, and shocking revelations, Mohamed evolves from a disillusioned worker into a powerful symbol of resistance. In a final act of sacrifice, he exposes the depths of corruption, becoming a martyr for the workers’ cause. His story resonates as a profound and enduring echo of the fight against injustice and betrayal.”
Credits
- Director
- Mehdi Hmili
- Screenwriter
- Mehdi Hmili
- Producer
- Moufida Fedhila, Mehdi Hmili
- Production Company
- 'Yol Film House
About the Director
Mehdi Hmili is a Tunisian director, screenwriter, and producer. He studied cinema in Paris and co-founded Yol Film House with Moufida Fedhila in Tunis, producing several award-winning fiction films and documentaries featured at numerous international festivals. In 2019, he participated in La Fabrique des Cinémas du Monde at the Cannes Film Festival with the feature ‘Exile’. His second feature film, ‘Streams’, was selected for the official competition and had its world premiere at the 74th Locarno Film Festival. The film won several awards, including Best Acting Performance at the 43rd Cairo International Film Festival, the Special Jury Award at the 27th Kolkata International Film Festival, the Best Actress and Best Actor Awards at the 38th Vues d’Afrique International Film Festival, and the Best Director Award at the 12th Malmö Arab Film Festival. Mehdi Hmili is part of the new wave of young Tunisian filmmakers and is a major figure in the current Tunisian cinematographic landscape. His production company, Yol Film House, plays an active role in supporting Tunisian talent, with its productions demonstrating strong potential for co-production and international distribution. Mehdi Hmili is a Torino Film Lab alumnus and a Film Independent alumnus. He lives and works between Tunis and Paris.