Tunisian documentary smashes taboos with gay love story
Nasreddine Shili’s hyperreal documentary takes a tender look at homosexuality, poverty and drug use in Tunis slums.
It took Tunisian director Nasreddine Shili nearly seven years to make “Subutext,” a daring documentary on poverty, drugs, homosexuality and sickness in Tunis’ slums.
The actor-turned-director became more and more attached to the subjects of the documentary, two young men from an impoverished neighborhood of Tunis, during this long period. “The moment of discovery that [one of the two main characters] had Hepatitis C was one of the most difficult moments in my life,” he told Al-Monitor.
“Subutext,” a 142-minute documentary screened at the Carthage Film Festival in November, hit Tunisian cinemas on Dec. 5. Critics praised its realistic take on Tunisia's marginalized gay community and their despair when faced with illness.
The documentary revolves around Abdul Razzak Shahar Rzouga and Lotfi Shahar Fanta, two homeless drug addicts who live in Bab-Jedid, a Tunis slum. Their love affair is tested when Rzouga finds out that Fanta has Hepatitis C. Then they embark on a journey seeking treatment and trying to kick their drug addiction.
