Giornate degli Autori - Mostra del Cinema di Venezia

“Backstage”, interview with directors Afef Ben Mahmoud and Khalil Benkirane

September 9, 2023

Directors Afef Ben Mahmoud and Khalil Benkirane talks about "Backstage", screening in competition at Giornate degli Autori 2023

"Backstage", interview with directors Afef Ben Mahmoud and Khalil Benkirane Giulia Bianconi

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Afef Ben Mahmoud and Khalil Benkirane mix cinema, theatre and dance in “Backstage”, screening in competition at Giornate degli Autori” during Venice International Film Festival 2023.

Spending much of her youth as a professional on stage between dance and theater, Afef, that in the movie plays Aida, as well as being its producer, was writing the script and discussing it with Khalil, putting together their cinematic vision.

A real drama plays out

“We wanted to recreate this singular dance troupe life and above all, through a very particular aspect of the world of the stage where the settling of scores under no circumstances can be seen by either the spectator nor the director – say Afef and Khalil, couple in life – But the show must always go on and, mainly offstage, is where the real drama plays out, which is why we decided to put there our camera to delve into the life of a dance troupe”.

An interior journey for characters and actors

“We were lucky to have to build a very nice relationship with other actors – Afef and Khalil explain – We were working with them for one year and a half through zoom, during the Covid time, developing where the characters are from, how and why they are together every single moment to when we reached the moment that the movie is started in their lives. Shooting it in chronological way helped a lot, also giving space for improvisation to let the movie flow and grow in this night’s journey of this road movie”.

Plot

The dance company "Without Borders" is concluding a Moroccan tour. During the penultimate show in an Atlas Mountains’ town, Aida provokes Hedi, her life and stage partner, who injures her in front of the horrified eyes of the other members of the troupe. They must depart in a hurry to seek urgent medical care and take to the road to meet the only doctor available in the area, in hopes to save the last performance. On the way, to avoid a monkey, the bus goes into a skid and miraculously stops by the side of the road. Without a spare tire, now the troupe is stuck in the forest. Outside, the full moon brightens over a majestic, yet worrying landscape. A road movie journey commences as all members decide to walk through the forest to reach the village, instead of waiting for the driver’s return. Through their journey, the true face of our characters reveals itself. Finally, after a long, arduous night, they reach the doctor’s house in the early morning and the new day hails in a different dynamic in the company.

Written by: Giulia Bianconi

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