The Source (2011)

Genre: Drama / Comedy

Directed by: Radu Mihaileanu

Starring: Leïla Bekhti, Hafsia Herzi

Running time: 124 minutes

The original title of this film is La Source des femmes, since it was produced in France, but, because I viewed it with English subtitles, I will review it in that language.

The Source tells the story of a group of women in North Africa who are forced by tradition to climb the mountain to a distant source to fetch water every day, all the while their husbands stay home, drink tea and discuss between friends. One day, after one woman falls and loses her child, the idea of a love strike comes up. So, the men will not get any affection in the bedroom before things change.

As they say, the man may wear the pants, but the woman decides when he gets to take them off.

This brilliant film covers a very important subject in the impact of religion and tradition on the treatment of women in certain areas of the world, and it does so with a good dose of humor. Some women are victims of violence because of their decision to impose a strike, but the focus is not put on that. We see the determination of a few to see that things change for the better for all of them. When people want to change old traditions, it is rarely accepted without resistance.

The acting is superb here on everybody’s part. Even though I didn’t understand the language spoken, I totally got the emotions conveyed. I first thought that the story dragged on a bit towards the end, but, when it got to the conclusion, I totally understood why it needed to last so long. It had to go where it needed to go.

Rating: «««««