NOW ON VOD! Set in the beautiful fig orchards of Tunisia, Under the Fig Trees is a naturalistic coming-of-age story. The film centers around three sisters working among the fig trees, navigating life with a volatile boss and inconsistent pay. Every conversation holds value, unpacking layers of a character-driven story in every line. Co-writer and director Eride Sehiri displays documentary influences, elevating the narrative’s true-to-life nature to nearly Cinéma vérité in a scripted format.
On the surface, Under the Fig Trees offers little in the realm of plot. Sisters Fidé (Fidé Fdhili), Melek (Feten Fdhili ), and Sana (Ameni Fdhili) work in a massive fig orchard. It’s challenging work and for little pay. Rumors about Fidé and the boss circulate; one of the young men is stealing figs for himself, and Melek pines for a boy who moved away but just returned. Yet, it’s not the story but how director Eride Sehiri reveals the story that makes the drama so engaging. In a single day, Sehiri makes the most of every conversation, leading to a dramatic, gossipy, and still inspiring film filled with love, conflict, family, violence, and joy.
“…three sisters working among the fig trees…”
Show, don’t tell is almost an unwritten rule of screenwriting. It’s repeated in books like “Save the Cat” or by many screenwriting YouTubers. “Show, don’t tell” may be the rule of many films. Under the Fig Trees is all about the telling. But, through the telling and the constant conversation, the most prominent character moments happen in this film. Rather than showing scandalous affairs or steamy romances, the audience learns about the characters through the rumor mill of each orchard worker. Expertly written, gossipy small-talk drives home character revelations and reveals motivations throughout the narrative. It’s a drama-centered “hangout” movie set in the countryside of Tunisia. The audience becomes invested in the characters and watches their schemes, struggles, relationships, and flaws play out.
Performances in Under the Fig Trees complement the material written by Erige Sehiri, Ghaya Lacroix, and Peggy Hamann. Fidé Fdhili is mesmerizing, allowing her character of the same name to shine as she argues, jokes, charms, flirts, and connects with others throughout the film. Her portrayal is a standout even amongst a strong cast of performers, bringing nuance to the role with her effortless charisma. Feten and Ameni Fdhili deliver solid performances as Melek and Sana — each building off the relationships established in the film and each other’s performance. In a story so grounded in conversation, each performer finds their voice, adding personality to each character and cementing them in reality.
Erige Sehiri makes a massive story of communication out of a small plot. Very little actually happens. The workers pick figs, the boss is horrific, some stand up for themselves, and the three sisters navigate relationships among themselves and other hired hands. Yet it’s how the story unfolds, the intimate conversations, that makes this enthralling. The characters feel real, the performances are personal, and you really know each character by the closing credits. It’s not the most rewatchable film, but Under the Fig Trees will capture your curiosity and more than satisfy a need for an excellent character-focused drama.
"…engaging."
