{"id":31834,"date":"2020-03-04T11:13:49","date_gmt":"2020-03-04T10:13:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leregardlibre.com\/?p=31834"},"modified":"2025-12-04T22:29:02","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T21:29:02","slug":"fiancees-a-slow-but-successful-documentary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leregardlibre.com\/en\/cinema\/films\/fiancees-a-slow-but-successful-documentary\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00abFianc\u00e9es\u00bb, a slow but successful documentary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cinema Wednesdays - Ivan Garcia<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julia B\u00fcnter's first feature film follows the journey of three Egyptian engaged couples on the road to marriage. A short journey to ponder. But don't let it bore you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

In Cairo, as elsewhere, marriage is a milestone in a person's life. The documentary therefore focuses on three women, the \u00abfianc\u00e9es\u00bb, from different backgrounds, guiding them towards marriage. Let's face it, Swiss cinema has a reputation for being a cinema where the documentary is king. As if the Swiss were incapable of producing a \u00abreal\u00bb screenplay... We feared the worst! At the same time, Fianc\u00e9es <\/em>could only be a documentary, given the delicate subject it tackles. And in that respect, it succeeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In 2015, Swiss filmmaker Julia B\u00fcnter moved to Cairo and followed three couples as they prepared for marriage. She meets Batool, an actress in a hurry to get married in order to be cajoled by her future husband Bassam. She follows the charismatic Marize, a Coptic woman with modern morals, during her manicure sessions and wedding price negotiations. And she films, among other things, a religious and social discussion between Randa, a Muslim fianc\u00e9e, and two older women who disagree with her opinions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit casting <\/em>is varied, and that's a very good thing. We feared we'd quickly fall into a clich\u00e9 denouncing the \u00abEgyptian patriarchy\u00bb, as well as a lack of nuance in characterization. Fortunately, the film's set-up avoids making judgments about the different worldviews defended by the characters. The camera follows the actions of the fianc\u00e9es and their entourage, but the cameraman never expresses himself. No questions, no interpellations. The eye observes but does not comment on the actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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