Tunisian born and Paris-trained, Moufida Tlatli was the Middle East's
top editor for years before directing The Silences Of The Palace. An
astonishing debut, already showing a clearly developed style and set
of concerns, it remains one of the finest films of the 1990s. The same
graceful camera moves, rich music and elegant editing structure are
evident in The Season Of Men, which also shares her debut's attention to
Arab female sexuality, the battle between tradition and modernity,
and the overlaps between the personal and political. A stint on the
Cannes 2001 jury boosted her profile; lined up next is a film about the
1001 Nights' Scheherazade.
