As-Sekka

How is Tunisia coping with the aftermath of the revolution that sparked the Arab spring? By casting a close look at the state of the union of the Tunisian railways, the film sheds an uncompromising light onto what still needs to be done to put society on the good track. Focusing her attention on five characters that are assigned to Line no 1, director Erige Sehiri composes a complex portrait of a country in a transitional phase. Line no 1 is dubbed “the Normal Way” because it is the only one built respecting the international standards. Ironically, it is also the most neglected and rundown. Accidents happens all the time putting both passengers’ and workers’ lives at stake. Ahmed, Afef, Issam, Abee and Najib are the protagonists and the witnesses of a difficult transformation process that from the Tunisian railways invests the whole of Tunisian post-revolutionary society. Each one of them tries hard to find a new place in a society that struggles to create a democratic way of existing. Tackling incompetence and corruption, this superbly-crafted film celebrates dignity, hope and resilience.