BEIRUT, 20 November 2006 — Celebrated Tunisian film director Nouri Buzaid’s latest film “The Last Film,” handles the delicate issue of religious extremism and political terrorism with a rare insight into the underlying issues of the identity crisis, which the youth in the Muslim and Arab world are experiencing, the daily Al-Watan reported.
“The Last Film,” which is in English, has, as expected, triggered a controversy because of the sensitive nature of its theme.
The movie revolves around Bahta, a young man who is influenced by extremist and fundamental ideologies and eventually blows himself up after becoming a suicide bomber.
Bahta is portrayed as an ordinary youth who dreams of one day becoming a professional dancer. However the religious society he lives in, views his career choice with contempt. After failing to migrate to Europe to pursue his dreams, Bahta gives up hope and falls in the hands of religious extremists. It is a devastating turning point in his life.
The film attempts to pass the message of how an ordinary person can be turned into a dangerous extremist because of society’s rejection of his talent, in this case dancing, which is his way of self fulfillment and expression.