Four Daughters

Innovative in form and piercing in content, Four Daughters tells the story of the titular Tunisian quartet and their unflinching, unforgiving, immensely complicated mother. This is a woman who bludgeoned her husband on their wedding night and used the blood as proof of consummation while at the same time being a horrifically strict parent, afraid that her girls will turn into “sluts.” Now young adults, the women reflect on their turbulent upbringing with laughter and tears, and director Ben Hania employs the radical device of sometimes having actresses play the daughters to enact difficult scenes from their lives. Where the story goes is utterly surprising, sometimes shocking, and always riveting while also being a potent reminder of the difficulties facing Arab women in conservative cultures. The film was the co-winner of the prestigious Golden Eye award for Best Documentary at Cannes.