Tunis 1977: Khalsawi Khalil, Professor of Constitutional Law is responsible by the ruling party to represent it in the new league rights. hiss mission is to defend the official positions in this period of tension between the government and the union. One day, Khalil learns that Houda, one of his students with whom he has an extramarital affair, was arrested in the south of the country with two Italian journalists who came to investigate on strikes in the phosphate mines.

Deeply insightful about the human-rights situation in Tunisia in the 70s, ‘Professor' is a dramatisation of the events surrounding a university law instructor's involvement with the government of President Habib Bourguiba. Appointed by the ruling party to defend the official position of its League of Human Rights during a period of tension between the government and the unions, Khalil Kalsaoui is having an extra-marital affair with one of his students. When she is arrested for her political views and opposition to authorities, Khalil attempts to defend her - and soon finds his career and personal life in jeopardy. Established director Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud echoes the deterioration of human rights in Tunisia under recently deposed President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and in doing so demonstrates one of the main forces driving Tunisia's revolution of 2011. Indeed, the film is itself a document of the revolution - shooting was repeatedly stopped during Ben Ali's rule and could only be finished after the success of the revolution.

Feature Narrative / Tunisia, France, Qatar / 2012 / 92 min / Colour / HDCAM / In Arabic / English subtitles

Direction: Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud

Screenplay: Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud

Director of Photography: Ali Ben Abdallah

Sound: Moëz Cheikh

Music: Michel Portal

Editing: Dina Farouk

Cast: Ahmed Hafiène, Lobna M'lika, Sondos Belhassen-Ben Miled, Ramzi Azaïez, Lotfi Dziri, Ahmed Snoussi, Lassâad Jamoussi

Producer
Habib Bel Hadi

Production: Familia Production



Company: Familia Production
Phone: +216 7133 3018

Print Source
Raphael Sarl Bauche
Company: La Toupie
Phone: +33 877 906 984

Sales Contact
Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud
Company: Familia Production
Phone: +216 223 014 55


2012 | Doha Tribeca Film Festival
* Selection - Arab Feature Film Competition
* International Premiere
* "Best Performance" for main actor Ahmed Hafiane
www.dohafilminstitute.com/filmfestival/archive/films/professor-1

2012 | 24th JCC, Tunisia
* Official competition feature films
* Best Screenplay Award (Prix du Meilleur Scenario)
www.jccarthage.com/eng/films-co_detail.php?id_film=19