Satin Rouge (2002) User Reviews

Window onto a different world

[nanwellins · 7/10 · 13 March 2006]

So few films from the Maghreb make it to USA screens, so see "Satin Rouge" for that alone: it's a rare chance to witness life in North Africa (in this case, Tunisia). There's an early morning cab ride through a charming, graceful Mediterranean cityscape and beach scenes that made me want to jump onto the Internet to research my next vacation - on the coast near Tunis. It was all far lovelier than I'd ever imagined.

Then there's the film itself. It offers a nicely-crafted, beautifully understated exposition of a shy widow's breaking out of her shell through the medium of traditional belly-dance, although the plot frog-leaps at times and the more literal-minded may be left wondering how certain developments came about. But the sensitive face of the actress who plays the lead role carries you over the spaces in the story.

The music is terrific - definitely an element in the film. Supporting cast (particularly the professional belly dancer) felt thoroughly authentic.

I found the mother-daughter relationship quite convincing, although if I were the daughter, I might have wondered where my mother was all those evenings! Worth seeing, particularly if you enjoy opening windows onto different cultures.

Belly dancing can be dangerous if you wear Polyester..

[jotix100 · 8/10 · 14 October 2002]

All I heard about this film was that it was from Tunisia. Nothing prepared me for a delightful trip into the cabarets and clubs where this ancient art is practiced.

Director Raja Amari has created the right atmosphere for this little film that is far better than some multi-million dollar duds. Probably the whole budget of this film would have only bought a couple of props in a Hollywood blockbuster.

The story is very sweet. Lilia, played with great charm by Hiyam Abbas, strikes the right note and makes the film work. The relationship between Lilia and Salma, the daughter, is strained. Lilia is not only beautiful, but she's full of life. She discovers the world of dancing with the help of a charming array of down to earth dancers who take her into their realm. They show her how to open up and regain a life that has been cut short by the death of her husband.

Lilia transforms herself into our eyes and all we can think is to shout at her to do her thing, enjoy life to the fullest.

A very satisfying time at the movies.

"An excellent display of belly dancing"

[simon-trek · 7/10 · 7 July 2004]

If you have a fondness of belly dancers like I do me, than this is an excellent movie. This movie has a perfect presentation of belly dancing in the Middle Eastern world. To me belly dancing is more than just a dance. It is a beautiful culture. Belly dancing is glamorous, sensual and mysterious. Belly dancers where such beautiful costumes and have such beautiful and sensual movements movements. That is why belly dancers are sometimes called "The flowers of the desert".

This movie is about Lilia a depressed single mother and widow with a teenage daughter. One night Lilia who one night walks into a cabaret where belly dancers perform. Lilia befriends one of the dancers. Lilia tries one a belly dance costume and the belly dancer that Lilia has befriended talks her into performing at the cabaret and Lilia becomes one of the regular belly dance performers. Lilia is also able to relieve herself of her melancholy by letting herself go.

So this film shows that belly dancing can have great mental benefits as well as great physical benefits. So if you like belly dancers than I certainly recommend this movie.

A Pretty Good Movie

[ekh2001 · 8 September 2002]

I liked this film, mostly because it was different from anything that comes out of Hollywood these days. First of all, the women actually look like normal women. I was pleasantly surprised to see older women with imperfect bodies depicted as sexy. Unlike shane k, I didn't think it was so predictable. I actually thought it was amazing how a once plain, shy, wallflower-like widow transforms into a manipulative and deceiving exotic dancer. What was most amazing was that it was not entirely implausible. The belly dancing, for her, was a way to feel things she had either never felt before or not in a long time - enchanting, desirable, alive. In the beginning, she was obsessed with her daughter because she didn't have a life of her own. Rather, she was envious of her daughter because she actually had a life. Once Lilia found something interesting on her own, she could let her daughter go. One warning, it is a little slow in the beginning. But like the dancing in the cabaret, it picks up to a rapid pace by the end. All in all, a pretty good movie.

What is a (Tunisian) Mum?

[trimmerb1234 · 6/10 · 17 July 2009]

"What is a Mum?" a British television advertisement once famously asked - the answer (in the 1950s) was someone who cooked for her family, washed their clothes cleaner than anyone else and was an attractive help mate for Dad.

A (modest Tunisian widowed) Mum we are asked to believe, ditches 40 years of ingrained modesty and glides without too much difficulty into shaking her booty for a male audience at a sleazy club where patrons arrange sexual liaisons with the dancers. That she starts an affair with one of the musicians, perhaps 15 years her junior, who in turn dates her daughter and that she coolly and with utter poise deals with this novel highly delicate and unconventional situation. And finally at her daughter's wedding Mum dances erotically for her son-in-law/lover and all's well that ends well.

The over extended soft porn love-making scene between Mum and future son-in-law rather gives the game away - the Tunisian director wants to demonstrate that her film (and liberated Tunisians) need cede little in terms of liberation to modern day France. Additionally it is sending a message that Tunisian women brought up in traditional ways can instantly and deftly adopt very sophisticated attitudes disregarding binding religious and cultural taboos both privately and in public.

For those Tunisians who admire European sexual liberation and female emancipation it is presumably a brave landmark film and a blow struck against the old ways.

As a window on modern Tunisia it seems unconvincing even nonsensical however well shot and in the case of Mum, charmingly acted.

Slight, but pleasantly satisfying......

[LordEmeryStanfordMerloe · 6/10 · 17 February 2005]

Satin Rouge is not a film that will grab you and swallow you up. What it is is nothing less than a sweet little story of a very short time in the life of a mother and daughter. The relationship is a bit strained as the father has passed and the mother is still holding on to what once was. While looking for her daughter one evening, as she has become quite strict, she stumbles upon a small cabaret of belly-dancers who proceed to welcome her. She be-friends them and slowly begins to open up. There is a quiet love-triangle involved, and it is all well done.

The major strength of Satin Rouge is it's sweetness, as each character is loving and kind, as we wish the world would have more of. The human condition is well exposed. the performances, albeit slight, are fine as well as the casting. Our only concern with the film is its bland storyline that might not have enough to hold the viewer's interest. Those who do will probably be smiling in the end.

Good Tunisian movie

[lallou · 9/10 · 7 March 2004]

As a 29 year old woman from Tunisia, I am satisfied and even proud of this movie. Here is another Tunisian movie that portrays Tunisian woman as liberated from the traditions, the religion, the social conformism, as opposed to women in some other Arabic/Muslim countries. I am excited to know that this movie has an international success. Hopefully, this will change people's prejudice about the society and the the situation of women in North Africa and the middle East. (by the way, Tunisia is in North Africa, not the middle East).

this is a great "aphrodisiac" movie!

[tonebone · 7/10 · 9 June 2003]

the plot of this movie is a bit contrived in certain places: i find it hard to believe that a widow can morph herself into a belly dancer/mrs. robinson type in such a short timespan, especially in conservative tunisia.

despite that, i'd have to say this is quite an "aphrodisiac" movie: for you guys out there who are dating "shy" women, or for you guys out there who want to rekindle some passion in your love life, have a go at watching this movie together, and then enjoy each other as the "tiger" within your woman comes out!

my thanks to raja amari (a new & promising talent) for a wonderful aphrodisiac.

The Sensuous Dance of "Satin Rouge"

[EmperorNortonII · 8/10 · 2 October 2002]

"Satin Rouge" is an obscure movie from Tunisia, but well worth a look. The story has Hiyam Abbas as Lilia, a widowed seamstress who breaks out of her shell and joins the glittery world of belly dancing. This movie seems to catch the essence of the dancer, how Middle Eastern society views her, and how she feels about the dance. "Satin Rouge" may not present a complete catalogue of belly dance moves, but what there is one might find very entertaining. On the whole, "Satin Rouge" offers a colorful look into another culture, making for a pleasurable dance.

Fantastic film

[Mimbulus_mimbletonia · 7/10 · 21 December 2013]

This is the second time I have watched 'Satin rouge', and I thought I would write a short review.

The first time I watched the film I became very intrigued about Tunisian culture; at the time I knew virtually nothing about the country. I was surprised to read about how much more liberal the country is compared to other Islamic countries in the Middle East/North Africa. For example the Government actually discourage the wearing of the hijab, and religion in general seems to be a bit more secular. The liberation of women in Islamic-dominated countries is not often seen so I enjoyed that aspect of this film in particular.

The main reason why I chose to watch 'Satin rouge' initially is because of the beautiful Hiam Abbass, a seasoned actress, whom I have seen in a fair few films now.

I enjoyed the film more after watching the second time. What I love most about it is that there is nothing overly spectacular about it. The plot, the editing, the scenes. But that's what makes it so good as well, because it is simple and that adds a sense of realism. It is a lovely little depiction of Tunisian life and culture.

Hiam was the perfect choice as traditional Lilia. It was amazing to see her character transform from a shy, plain widow with a bland and uninteresting life, into a more liberated, confident, expressive and beautiful woman with a new zest for life.

Whilst we don't see much depth in some of the supporting characters (including Lilia's daughter), they all complement Lilia's character nicely. I do love the fact that the sexual tryst Lilia has is with her daughter's boyfriend. Adds a bit of sauciness to the story!

'Satin rouge' goes against the usual grain of Islamic/Middle Eastern (or in this case, North African!) culture and society and for that, it is definitely a gem for those who appreciate indie cinema.

Predictable

[shanek-2 · 4/10 · 10 June 2002]

If you haven't figured out what is going to happen in this film in the first five minutes then give it a couple more minutes. Lilia is a widow. She has been left on the shelf for too long and she wants to burst out. She has a teenage daughter which only highlights that she is not getting any younger. While checking up on her daughter she discovers a world she never dared...the cabaret, where she can belly dance in skimpy sequined outfits while men throw money at her. The film is very misogamist. It's portrayal of men is dismal. Which is rather odd as Lilia stoops to jiggle around for them, not for money, but just for the hell of it. When she succeeds in arousing them it makes her feel like a woman again. She does not wish to connect with them but she is addicted to the attention. The other dancers all are mostly aging women who look like men in drag and realize their time in the spotlight is short-lived. Not short enough I say. She does find romance, however brief , with you guessed it....No surprises here we didn't see coming. Though the ending is good you realize that it could have ended no other way. Maybe this film just isn't targeting my demographic- 30 Male

i loved this film

[movieZombie · 10/10 · 30 September 2002]

great coming of age film about a middle aged woman who finds out that she has a lot of life in her and to live. and i loved the sound track!

the comment has been made that the first half of the film was slow but i just found it very "french". however, the 2nd half of the film was not edited nearly as well.

its good to see a film in which older women are portrayed as sensually desirable!

Like belly dancing??

[=G= · 4/10 · 13 September 2003]

Well, you'd better if you plan on sitting through this amateurish, bland, and pokey flick about a middle-aged widowed mom who has a little more in common with her young adult or old teen daughter than she would like. Set in Tunis, mom piddles around the flat, gets antsy, and decides, albeit reluctantly (she just can't help herself), to don the costume and dance in a local cabaret. Meanwhile her daughter is taking dancing lessons. The common denominator is a Tunisian band drummer. This film is so full of filler I watched the DVD at x2 and read the subtitles, fast forwarding through much of the very ordinary dancing and loooong shots of walking (they walk everywhere) and more walking and just plain dawdling at x4 just to get though this boring, uneventful, low budget flick which some how garnered some pretty good critical plaudits. Go figure. (C-)

Woman on the verge of a nervous belly dance

[Shakespeare-2 · 7 February 2003]

As a gay man, I feel that "Satin Rouge" has a very gay sensibility. Anyone who has ever braved society's strictures to come out of the closet will have a visceral understanding of what Lilia goes through as she voyages from the purdah of widowhood to the freedom of belly dancing in a cabaret.

I kept wondering how "Satin Rouge" would look and feel if the film had been made by another director in another country. Specifically, I found "Satin Rouge" and its characters very reminiscent of Pedro Almodovar (whose work also has a gay sensibility). If the film had been made in the United States, it would probably have to have a gay male lead character coming out into drag. I really can't compare the belly dancers of Tunisia -- at least as they are presented in "Satin Rouge" to anything other than American drag queens. To have the main character take up stripping in a nightclub, or hooking on the streets, would not be at all the same.

In any case, "Satin Rouge" kept my interest up right to the very end. It was the kind of movie that could have gone either of two ways. It could have ended both comically and tragically. There are certainly laughs along the way, but some of them were nervous laughs. I won't spoil your viewing pleasure by telling you how the movie finally turns out.

Deceptively complex study of a middle-age woman finding herself

[runamokprods · 8/10 · 5 September 2010]

Sweet, and ultimately surprisingly complex. A middle aged Tunisian widow re-discovers herself and her sexuality through belly dancing at a nightclub.

For a while it plays a bit like a Hollywood fantasy (her transition from mousy loner to extroverted pro belly dancer is absurdly quick and easy), but with time the film grows into areas of greater subtlety; not just a woman breaking free in a repressive culture, but spotlighting the wonderful sexiness of a self-accepting woman in her 40s (something few western films do), and the dark along with the light that comes with sexual liberation (the club is right on the edge of feeling like a creepy strip club, where a number of the dancers works as prostitutes). Throw in the fact that our heroin sleeps (unknowingly) with her daughter's boyfriend and yet is neither condemned or punished for it, plus the film's deliberately ambiguous ending involving said boyfriend and daughter, and the film well transcends its 'Flashdance goes Islam' first half to become something wonderful and emotionally complex.

Solid as a rock!

[Sherazade · 10/10 · 23 February 2007]

I like films that make you think, open ended films like this one that challenge your convictions and norms. The plot is very simple, nothing too fancy, it's very ordinary actually until it becomes complex later on. A young widow begins to lead a monotonous lifestyle following the death of her husband (whom she stills talks to in old photographs, by the way) while raising a teenage daughter in Tunisia. She likes dancing but does not know how to express herself in a society that would frown upon a widow trying to act lively or life-like, so she keeps it all inside.

One day, while walking home from the market she hears music coming for a dance studio and ventures in for a peek. She finds a troupe of belly-dancers practicing and in the midst of them is her daughter, whom she watches for a while before deciding to go and wait outside. At the end of the rehearsal her daughter comes out to join her and they walk home together. The next day, the mother goes out again and this time spots a cabaret which she ventures into and faints when she witnesses the dancing, drinking and smoking that is going on in there. When she comes to, she is the midst of all the belly-dancers who have gathered around her in concern. The lead dancer clears the room and assures the woman that everything is alright and thus the friendship between the two women begins.

The widow then begins to make it a habit of sneaking out every night to go and watch the belly-dancers dance and one night she even goes as far as she slip into one of their outfits for a little backstage dancing of her own. But all hell breaks loose when the head belly-dancer, her new best-friend spots her and drags her to the stage. The widow becomes an instant hit and is hired to begin dancing at the cabaret. With her slick moves, untamed fire and wild abandon, she soon attracts the attention of legions of male fans including the male drummer of the dancers backing band, all of whom she rebuffs. One night, when the drummer saves her from practically being raped, a friendship develops between the two of which ultimately leads to a sexual relationship later one (which the drummer is quick to end).

Meanwhile back at home, the widow's love stricken teenage daughter has finally decided to open up to her mother and bring home her secret boyfriend who has now become her fiancé, and who also turns out to be (yup, you guessed it) the same cabaret drummer her mother has been sleeping with. This film is a must watch for anyone who appreciates world cinema and fine film making.

interesting for americans, bold for the filmmaker, but simple for the film viewer

[argv · 30 July 2003]

`Satin Rouge' is the second film from Raja Amari from Tunisia, an island off the coast of Libya in the Mediterranean Sea. As is usually the case with foreign films that go through scrupulous hurdles before making it to the United States, it's pretty good. The appeal to American audiences will probably be limited to the art-film culture, which is unfortunate, since what the film has most to offer is the stuff that mainstream Americans should see: a look into every day life in a Middle Eastern country where Arab and Western cultures integrate well.

The plot of `Satin Rouge' is rather simple: Lilia is a widow who wants to live life again. Her teenage daughter is getting interested in boys and integrating more western ways into her lifestyle. One night, while trying to follow her daughter's activities into the night, Lilia inadvertently discovers a cabaret. She enters to find women belly dancing in skimpy outfits, reacting both horrified and intrigued at the same time. Her desire to find her own individuality and break the moralistic mold of her upbringing has her frequenting the cabaret nightly. The other dancers befriend her, and before she knows it, she's belly-button deep in the club scene herself. As the plot thickens and romances develop, Lilia and her daughter both find themselves learning more about life than either of them bargained for.

There's no question this is a cute movie. The characters are amiable, although none of them are particularly deep, nor do they find themselves confronting and resolving difficult issues beyond the plot points. It's a simple little story, and Amari certainly has developed a great talent for writing and producing. However, `Satin Rouge' still looks and smells like a low-budget indi-film, which, despite it's clear entertainment value and obvious potential for future films, the movie is rough around the edges. The range of character profiles is limited, characters don't exhibit any dramatic `risk', and the plot line is moderately predictable, except for the very innovative and apt ending. Yet, the lead up to it was fully predictable, and the time spent getting there was longer than it needed to be. This is called, "bridging", and the idea is to avoid taking the viewer over an obvious path that will lead an inevidible other side. If we all know it's coming, either get there, or explore developments that contribute to the plot or character profiles. In this case, the delivery is "adequate," but not exemplary, a common mistake made by newer filmmakers.

The best part of the film is the intimate lens peering into a world and culture that is totally unfamiliar Americans. The depiction of old-world Arab and Western cultures was done so matter-of-factly and unintentional – something that only we Westerners would notice – that I felt a great sense of authenticity that what we were seeing was truly real. This aspect of `Satin Rouge' is not necessarily unique. Most films that come from Iran also illustrate these same features of their society, which would surprise and encourage most Americans as well. To this end, I think it's extremely important for the film industry to encourage and assist in more films from the Middle East region get into our country. We need it.

sleepy but hypnotic Tunisian fare

[qwertzy · 11 March 2004]

Another female-centric movie which is somewhat Karmen Gaei meets Sirens. Karmen Gaei being a similarly African film with long sequences of song-and-dance, and Sirens being a middle-aged woman who discovers new found sexuality within her.

This movie starts off somewhat languidly, and lulls you into a sleepy mood. The main protaganist, Lilia, a beautiful widow, goes about her sheltered life comfortably. Everyday she goes to the market, chats on the phone and fusses over her daughter, much to the latter's chargrin. She entombs herself with memories of her late husband together in the apartment. In one of her many quests to control her daughter, she accidentally stumbles onto a cabarat a few streets from her house. Ever so slowly, the movie merges her mundane world with the frenzy of the cabarat world. The cabarat has an irresistable charm, with its incessant drumbeats, and riots of colours that draw people like flies to the light. And that is what happens to Lilia. To the rest of us, it is a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, just like Karmen Gaei, the song-and-dance sequence goes on for far too long for non-africans. The terrible pacing, which is a blasphemy in the western world of CGI and action, snuffs out whatever interest is left of the viewer.

The one good saving point of this movie is the portrayal of Tunisian society. The titanic struggle between secularism and Islam, the east and west, the young and old, conservatism and liberation, threatens to boil over at some point, but they never do. Somehow the Tunisian society resolve these issues much more elegantly than say, more fundamentalist Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia or Egypt.

Watching this movie makes me feel I've just been to the modern city of Tunis to pay a visit to a boring aunt for the weekend.

Rating : 5.0