Venice Film Festival: Miu Miu Unveils Short Film by Tunisia’s Kaouther Ben Hania
The Italian fashion house presents the latest in its Women’s Tales series, introducing the director and screenwriter’s new project as a movie that is nothing short of talent
As part of the Venice Film Festival’s Giornate Degli Autori programme, one regional short movie managed to make its way through to be screened in an unprecedented world premiere; I and the Stupid Boy.
Directed by no other than the talented Kaouther Ben Hania, the Tunisian screenwriter, best-known for having been nominated for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards in 2020, is back again with a new motion picture project commissioned by the Prada-sponsored Miu Miu Women’s Tales to investigate vanity and femininity in the 21st century.
Inviting today’s most profound and original of female directors to explore the above-mentioned matters and themes, the 14 minute short paints a universal love-soaked tale with a modern-day twist. Touching upon male-female dynamics and the all-encompassing elements of shame, Nora, played by the Cesar-prized Oulaya Amamra, is pictured taking a shortcut through an abandoned building on her way to her hot date before her ex-boyfriend, Kevin (Sandor Funtek), pulls up in the background to settle some scores.
“I wanted to create an impossible love story,” says Kaouther. “The girl in my story is very empathetic,” she continues, “whereas the boy sees everything from his own perspective.”
Inspired by an overheard conversation in the world’s capital of romance, Paris, the film references a wide range of contemporary themes faced by young women all around the globe may it be the relationship between technology and intimacy, emotionally toxic interactions or even self-value, and how, “secrets become easily revealed in a single click.”
Available to stream on MUBI globally from September 5 onwards, we can only hope for Kaouther Ben Hania’s latest project to be just as successful as her previous artistic endeavours in the silver screen industry.
Lead image courtesy of Instagram/@miumiu