By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.5 cats
Director: Lyes Salem
Starring: Lyes Salem | Merouane Zmirli | Mohamed Boucharïb | Mourad Khen | Rym Takoucht | Sarah Reguieg
Original language title: Mascarades
Country: algeria, france
Year: 2009
Running time: 94
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1310654/
Bruce says: “MASQUERADES is one of those films that take me by surprise and win me over easily. The story is a small one and perhaps not that original. Three old men sit in the village square when a group of black sedans comes roaring through the village and whips around the fountain of the square stirring up several layers of dirt and dust. Everyone in the square scurries to safety except the three men who cover their faces with makeshift masks. Weddings are important events; one of the sedans has a hood display, ‘Love Forever’ in brightly colored flowers.
“Mounir (played by writer/director Lyes Salem), a man who is head of his household suffers from an oversized ego and underachievement, a most unfortunate combination unless it is fodder for comedy. Luckily that is exactly the case with MASQUERADES. He calls himself a Horticultural Engineer when, in fact, he is the gardener of the Colonel, the wealthiest man in the village. Mounir lives with his wife Habibia (Rym Takoucht), son and his narcoleptic sister Rym (Sarah Reguieg), a young woman who is dangerously close to being past the marrying age. Mounir’s best friend Khliffa (Mohamed Boucharïb) is in love with Rym and everyone around them ignores what is obvious. Rym must be married to someone special. In that regard a best friend does not qualify unless he is uncommonly rich. Khliffa has an artistic bent and his ambition is to open a local DVD store. Mounir has promised his wife a microwave but can’t come up with the goods. Mounir did not marry a mousey woman. Early in the film Mounir asks her where her headscarf is and she flippantly replies, ‘I lost it.’ That headstrong nature has rubbed off on Rym who follows suit by saying ‘Mine’s with hers.’
“When Mounir, Rym and Habiba go to the local four star hotel, Mounir hears William Vancooten paged. After a night of heavy drinking Mounir lets the news out – his sister is engaged to Vancooten. Overnight Mounir is transformed from laughing stock to the village celebrity. His sleazy next door neighbor Redouane (Mourad Khen) becomes his new best friend and finds a microwave for Mounir. All the men vie for his company at the local café. Rym plays along with the charade hoping it will accelerate her chances to marry Khliffa. Everyone in the village begins preparation for the wedding and begins to worry about the prospective bride’s ability to stay awake for the wedding and celebration. Habiba speaks her mind and finally confronts Mounir asking when he is going to confess that there will be no wedding. ‘I need to find the right moment. I’ll sort it out, don’t worry,’ Mounir assures her. Khliffa and Rym are not so confident that their love affair will have a happy ending.
“Lyes Salem is a talent to watch in every respect. The film has lightness in movement that only a first class writer can achieve. His direction is assured; he has great comic flair as an actor. MASQUERADES is a lovely comedy of manners. 4 1/2 cats
“(MASQUERADES screened at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.)”