Paris-based sales agent Luxbox has secured the rights to Erige Sehiri’s upcoming feature, Marie & Jolie. The film, which is currently in production, delves into the lives of quiet Christian communities within the predominantly Muslim city of Tunis. Written by Sehiri alongside Anna Ciennik and Malika Cécile Louati, the drama is produced by Henia Production and Didar Domehri of Maneki Films.
The project, showcased at the Venice Gap-Financing Market, has garnered support from several prestigious sources, including the Doha Film Institute, the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the Fonds Image de la Francophonie, and TV5MONDE, with additional funding from Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals Fund.
Starring Aïssa Maïga (“Bamako”) and Laetitia Ky (“Night of the Kings,” “Disco Boy”), along with newcomer Deborah Naney, Marie & Jolie tells the story of three women living in a house that secretly hosts an Evangelical church. Their lives are turned upside down when they take in a child migrant who has survived a shipwreck, forcing them to reevaluate their roles within the house and their place in society.
Director Erige Sehiri emphasizes the importance of depicting migration within Africa, noting, “We often hear about people who migrate from Africa to Europe, while 80% of migrants actually move within Africa. Among them, some settle in North Africa. Telling their stories opens up new perspectives and provides a different view of the world.”
Sehiri selected her cast based on their real-world impact, aiming for them to fully immerse themselves in the contemporary issues of Tunisia, including economic and migratory challenges, as well as societal violence and racism towards the Black population.
Sehiri, known for her previous work Under the Fig Trees, which won at Final Cut in Venice in 2021 and represented Tunisia at the 2023 Oscars, reunites with producer Didar Domehri. Domehri expresses enthusiasm for Sehiri’s latest project, praising her ability to create nuanced characters and offer a unique perspective on the intersection of gender and migration in Tunisia.
“I’m thrilled to produce Erige Sehiri’s new film,” Domehri says. “She continues to explore complex characters and provides a subtle, original view of women’s roles and their migration experiences in Tunisia, highlighting stories that are often overlooked.”
