Presented as part of Bijou Horizons, a film series that brings awareness to diverse cultures through screenings of acclaimed international cinema. Free admission for UI students and $6 for general public.

U. of Iowa students who see all five Horizons shows in a semester will be eligible to win a study abroad scholarship!

AS I OPEN MY EYES

"Best fictional film yet about the Arab Spring." -Indiewire

"A headstrong young woman in Tunisia bucks her parents and her repressive society in Leyla Bouzid's impressive debut." -Variety

Tradition butts up against progress in Leyla Bouzid’s debut feature As I Open My Eyes, a musically-charged French-Tunisian film that follows a young woman in a band as she navigates familial, cultural, and social ideals in contemporary Tunis. Her band—assembled of several friends and one more-than-a-friend—plays a blend of original music and covers at local bars, including men’s-only joints. For Farah (Baya Medhaffar), the young woman at the heart of the film, music transcends cultures and languages, and the lengthy musical interludes demonstrate a kind of escapism. But music too is wrapped up in the politics. As I Open My Eyes situates itself at the dawn of the Arab Spring in Tunisia, and Farah’s music addresses politics and issues in her home country. (Tribeca Film Festival)