Four Daughters (Les filles d’Olfa)

Four Daughters (Les filles d’Olfa) directed by Kaouther Ben Hania

Tunisia’s submission to the Academy Awards is a riveting exploration of rebellion, memory, and sisterhood that reconstructs the story of Olfa Hamrouni and her four daughters. Unpacking a complex family history through interviews and reenactments, the film examines how the mother’s two eldest were radicalized by Islamic extremists. Casting professional actresses as the missing daughters, along with acclaimed Egyptian-Tunisian actress Hend Sabri as Olfa, director Kaouther Ben Hania (The Man Who Sold His Skin) restages pivotal moments in the family’s life. These scenes are interwoven with reflections from Olfa and her younger daughters, allowing the women to tell their own stories and capturing moments of joy, loss, violence, and heartache.