IN A WHISPER BY LEYLA BOUZID: LOVE LIVED IN HIDING

‘In a Whisper’ tells the story of Lilia, who is back in Tunisia for her uncle’s funeral. Reunited with a family that knows nothing about her life in Paris, especially her love life, Lilia is determined to unravel the mystery surrounding her uncle’s sudden death in a house where three generations of women live together amid silence and tradition.

From its very first minutes, the movie establishes an uncomfortable intimacy, and from there builds a deeply human portrait of family and the impossibility of living freely within a society that is constantly watching. I went in with no expectations and ended up witnessing some of the best performances I have seen in a very long time.

Leyla Bouzid, the director, portrays Tunisia as a space filled with invisible tensions. The film is about something far more complex than mere social conflict: here, fear stems not only from the state or the law. It also stems from the constant need to negotiate who you are depending on who is watching within your own family. 

What is most admirable is that the movie never attempts to translate the conflict to make it more ‘understandable’. Visually, Bouzid creates a striking atmosphere. There are scenes like the wedding montage, which brings immense humanity to the film. The camera often seems to hide, as if the viewer were observing something they should not see. This visual language connects perfectly with the film’s central theme, and the use of mirrors and reflective surfaces is particularly powerful; family members seem unable to see themselves fully, trapped in the image they project to others.

There is a profound sensitivity in the way domestic spaces are filmed. The movement within the house and the shared silences between rooms following the burial of Lilia’s uncle help to create a sense of painful intimacy. Also, the music magnificently complements this visual universe because it never forces the emotions. 

The performances are extraordinary overall, but especially those of Hiam Abbass and Eya Bouteraa as Wahida and Lilia. The most moving moments occur precisely when they are not speaking, as this mother-daughter relationship is built upon small wounds accumulated over the years. 

Perhaps the only criticism that can be leveled at it is that the final minutes seem a bit longer than necessary. But even there, it’s hard to disconnect because Bouzid ensures that every scene keeps the story’s emotional sensitivity intact.

The first thing I thought after finishing it was whether it could really be released in Tunisia. The thing is, it did get released, but it is hard not to wonder how it will be received. Some viewers might use it as ‘proof’ of social immorality, rather than questioning the structures and laws that force so many people to live in hiding. And that is precisely why films like this one are so important. 

Beyond its political message, ‘In a Whisper’ is, above all, a deeply honest film about love. Bouzid portrays it as something fragile and clandestine, but also as something impossible to erase, even when everything around it tries to make it disappear.

Words by @joaquinxbc