Maghrebi women’s cinema. Gender, body and politics as subversive axes

Films by women directors constitute a revolutionary stylistic discourse on the cultural scene in the Maghreb. With their subversive filmography, these filmmakers have explored political, religious, and sexual taboos while forging a new visual style for self-expression. The aim of this study is to m...

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Main Author: Awatef Ketiti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Complutense de Madrid 2025-05-01
Series:Arte, Individuo y Sociedad
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Online Access:https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/ARIS/article/view/98854
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author Awatef Ketiti
author_facet Awatef Ketiti
author_sort Awatef Ketiti
collection DOAJ
description Films by women directors constitute a revolutionary stylistic discourse on the cultural scene in the Maghreb. With their subversive filmography, these filmmakers have explored political, religious, and sexual taboos while forging a new visual style for self-expression. The aim of this study is to make a thematic analysis of the filmography of Maghrebi women directors and to shed light on the subversive features that characterise this aesthetic project. Two methods are used for this analysis: a compilation case study covering the history of this cinema; and an analysis of three films by three young Maghrebi directors of the new generation: Adam by Maryam Touzani (Morocco); As I Open My Eyes by Leyla Bouzid (Tunisia); and Papicha by Mounia Meddour (Algeria). The findings reveal a significant evolution in Maghrebi women’s cinema, culminating in a new approach to filmmaking that is highlighted in the works of young women filmmakers. Three key trends are clear: the centrality of women’s issues; the transgression of gender, political and religious taboos; and an emphasis on the body and on female desire.
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spelling doaj-art-cd3f5065eb8240c997928f9cefc6ab4a2025-08-20T03:05:45ZengUniversidad Complutense de MadridArte, Individuo y Sociedad1988-24082025-05-01Avance en línea10.5209/aris.98854Maghrebi women’s cinema. Gender, body and politics as subversive axesAwatef Ketiti0Universitat de València Films by women directors constitute a revolutionary stylistic discourse on the cultural scene in the Maghreb. With their subversive filmography, these filmmakers have explored political, religious, and sexual taboos while forging a new visual style for self-expression. The aim of this study is to make a thematic analysis of the filmography of Maghrebi women directors and to shed light on the subversive features that characterise this aesthetic project. Two methods are used for this analysis: a compilation case study covering the history of this cinema; and an analysis of three films by three young Maghrebi directors of the new generation: Adam by Maryam Touzani (Morocco); As I Open My Eyes by Leyla Bouzid (Tunisia); and Papicha by Mounia Meddour (Algeria). The findings reveal a significant evolution in Maghrebi women’s cinema, culminating in a new approach to filmmaking that is highlighted in the works of young women filmmakers. Three key trends are clear: the centrality of women’s issues; the transgression of gender, political and religious taboos; and an emphasis on the body and on female desire. https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/ARIS/article/view/98854women filmmakersMaghrebNorth African cinemafeminismsubversive filmmaking
spellingShingle Awatef Ketiti
Maghrebi women’s cinema. Gender, body and politics as subversive axes
Arte, Individuo y Sociedad
women filmmakers
Maghreb
North African cinema
feminism
subversive filmmaking
title Maghrebi women’s cinema. Gender, body and politics as subversive axes
title_full Maghrebi women’s cinema. Gender, body and politics as subversive axes
title_fullStr Maghrebi women’s cinema. Gender, body and politics as subversive axes
title_full_unstemmed Maghrebi women’s cinema. Gender, body and politics as subversive axes
title_short Maghrebi women’s cinema. Gender, body and politics as subversive axes
title_sort maghrebi women s cinema gender body and politics as subversive axes
topic women filmmakers
Maghreb
North African cinema
feminism
subversive filmmaking
url https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/ARIS/article/view/98854
work_keys_str_mv AT awatefketiti maghrebiwomenscinemagenderbodyandpoliticsassubversiveaxes