Sweet, and ultimately surprisingly complex. A middle aged Tunisian widow re-discovers herself and her sexuality through belly dancing at a nightclub. For a while it plays a bit like a Hollywood fantasy (her transition from mousy loner to extroverted pro belly dancer is absurdly quick and easy), but with time the film grows into areas of greater subtlety; not just a woman breaking free in a repressive culture, but spotlighting the wonderful sexiness of a self-accepting woman in her 40s (something few western films do), and the dark along with the light that comes with sexual liberation (the club is right on the edge of feeling like a creepy strip club, where a number of the dancers works as prostitutes). Throw in the fact that our heroin sleeps (unknowingly) with her daughter's boyfriend and yet is neither condemned or punished for it, plus the film's deliberately ambiguous ending involving said boyfriend and daughter, and the film well transcends its 'Flashdance goes Islam' first half to become something wonderful and emotionally complex.

I like films that make you think, open ended films like this one that challenge your convictions and norms. The plot is very simple, nothing too fancy, it's very ordinary actually until it becomes complex later on. A young widow begins to lead a monotonous lifestyle following the death of her husband (whom she stills talks to in old photographs, by the way) while raising a teenage daughter in Tunisia. She likes dancing but does not know how to express herself in a society that would frown upon a widow trying to act lively or life-like, so she keeps it all inside.One day, while walking home from the market she hears music coming for a dance studio and ventures in for a peek. She finds a troupe of belly-dancers practicing and in the midst of them is her daughter, whom she watches for a while before deciding to go and wait outside. At the end of the rehearsal her daughter comes out to join her and they walk home together. The next day, the mother goes out again and this time spots a cabaret which she ventures into and faints when she witnesses the dancing, drinking and smoking that is going on in there. When she comes to, she is the midst of all the belly-dancers who have gathered around her in concern. The lead dancer clears the room and assures the woman that everything is alright and thus the friendship between the two women begins. The widow then begins to make it a habit of sneaking out every night to go and watch the belly-dancers dance and one night she even goes as far as she slip into one of their outfits for a little backstage dancing of her own. But all hell breaks loose when the head belly-dancer, her new best-friend spots her and drags her to the stage. The widow becomes an instant hit and is hired to begin dancing at the cabaret. With her slick moves, untamed fire and wild abandon, she soon attracts the attention of legions of male fans including the male drummer of the dancers backing band, all of whom she rebuffs. One night, when the drummer saves her from practically being raped, a friendship develops between the two of which ultimately leads to a sexual relationship later one (which the drummer is quick to end). Meanwhile back at home, the widow's love stricken teenage daughter has finally decided to open up to her mother and bring home her secret boyfriend who has now become her fiancé, and who also turns out to be (yup, you guessed it) the same cabaret drummer her mother has been sleeping with. This film is a must watch for anyone who appreciates world cinema and fine film making.

As a 29 year old woman from Tunisia, I am satisfied and even proud of this movie. Here is another Tunisian movie that portrays Tunisian woman as liberated from the traditions, the religion, the social conformism, as opposed to women in some other Arabic/Muslim countries. I am excited to know that this movie has an international success. Hopefully, this will change people's prejudice about the society and the the situation of women in North Africa and the middle East. (by the way, Tunisia is in North Africa, not the middle East).

the plot of this movie is a bit contrived in certain places: i find it hard to believe that a widow can morph herself into a belly dancer/mrs. robinson type in such a short timespan, especially in conservative tunisia.despite that, i'd have to say this is quite an "aphrodisiac" movie: for you guys out there who are dating "shy" women, or for you guys out there who want to rekindle some passion in your love life, have a go at watching this movie together, and then enjoy each other as the "tiger" within your woman comes out!my thanks to raja amari (a new & promising talent) for a wonderful aphrodisiac.