CHOFT ENNOUJOUM FIL KAÏLA (AND I SAW STARS)
Tunesien 2006 – Director: Hichem Ben Ammar – Original language: Arabic, English, French – Subtitles: English – Length: 78 min.
“The boxer is out of necessity the incarnation of a revolt against social injustice.” Hichem Ben Ammar
And I Saw Stars traces the history of boxing in Tunisia up to the present day. From the larger than life characters such as Hassan El Karrèche, the offal vendor of mythological proportions, to the sport’s current lull, the film portrays, through many diverse voices, the determination and character which fuelled the glory days of Tunisian boxing. Both strong and vulnerable, these pursuers of stardom, looking for fame in the ring, come across almost like characters in a fiction.
Conditioned by cruelty and violence, many are naturally distrustful and protective of the image they literally fought hard to build. Tact and patience were required to create trust and dissolve the barriers. "Having experienced the interviews like tests, and often as tests of strength, I myself have approached my personal ring. I have clearly understood that boxing is a language and that the documentary is a true fight." Hichem Ben Ammar
English/Original Title: And I Saw Stars. Writer: Hichem Ben Ammar. Camera: Rabii Messaoudi, Lotfi Chammam, Walid Mattar, Taïeb Ben Brahim, Elodie Colomar, Anne Closset. Sound: Yassine Meliani, Wassim Mestiri, Salah Chargui. Editing: Inès Chérif. Production: 5/5 Productions. Producer: Hichem Ben Ammar.
