Since she settled in Quebec, Halima (Naïlia Harzoune, masterful), born in France to Algerian parents, has forged her own identity by hiding her traumatic past. To Sylvain (Antoine Bertrand, impeccable), her partner and father of their daughter Léa (Athéna Henry, a conquering nature), she recounted having lived from one foster home to another. When she discovers that she is pregnant with a boy, she feels the urgency to visit her family, despite the nightmarish memories that haunt her day and night.
As she reconnects with her mother (the excellent Fatma-Zohra Mimouni, an actress and dancer who had never yet acted in Quebec) and her father (filmmaker Rabah Bouberras, terrifying in his first role on the big screen), Halima realizes that the climate has remained toxic in the modest family apartment. Worse still, she discovers the terrible secrets that her brothers and sisters have been hiding from her. While Sylvain gradually guesses the extent of the drama Halima has experienced, Léa is happy to have grandparents.
Eight years later Montreal the whitebased on his documentary piece on the Algerian diaspora created in 2004, Bachir Bensaddek returns with a new portrait of an immigrant woman who fled her past. With the same delicacy, he sketches in The Hidden Woman a female character tinged with mystery through which one can guess a quiet strength, an extraordinary courage and an unfailing resilience.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY K-FILMS AMERICA
Antoine Bertrand and Naïlia Harzoune in a scene from the film The Hidden Woman
Inspired by the true story of a woman who confided in Serge Noël, the film’s producer, the screenplay, written by Maria Camila Arias (Birds of passageby Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra) and Bachir Bensaddek, tells with modesty and respect the heavy past of Halima. Far from the scriptwriters the idea of betting on the scabrous or on sensationalism. Only a few strong images and half-hearted replies will suffice to expose the facts.
Moreover, the director takes care to first set the action in a warm, enveloping atmosphere, despite the harshness of the Quebec winter. Then the light with its bluish and muted tones by Alexandre Nour Desjardins becomes harsh when the action moves to Montpellier, to the parents’ house, in whose apartment it filters through at times with difficulty. Entirely recreated in a studio in Montreal by Samuel Teisseire, the French apartment perfectly conveys the deleterious atmosphere that reigns there.
Driven by a rage that consumes her, Halima, who is not the only hidden woman in this painful family story, initially appears harsh and unfriendly, especially alongside an understanding husband and caring father. During her quest for the truth, which sometimes takes on the appearance of a patient psychological thriller, Halima slowly reveals her true nature. If the ending, which we had hoped would be more striking, can be destabilizing, even disappointing, we have to admit that it is nevertheless credible and, above all, full of hope.
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Drama
The Hidden Woman
Bachir Bensaddek
With Naïlia Harzoune, Antoine Bertrand, Athéna Henry
1 h 41