LES ENFANTS ROUGES – A Powerful Reflection on Memory and Dignity

In Les Enfants rouges, director Lotfi Achour delivers a deeply moving film inspired by a harrowing true event that took place in Tunisia in 2015. With poetic sensitivity and powerful visual language, the film explores the intimate and communal impact of a brutal crime, as experienced through the eyes of a child. It will be released in Moroccan theaters on April 23, 2025, distributed by Film Event Consulting.

A Real Tragedy, A Universal Message

In a forgotten rural region of Tunisia, two teenage shepherds are attacked in the mountains. Nizar, 16, is murdered. His cousin Achraf, 14, is forced to carry his severed head back to the family. This real-life incident shook the country. Rather than reconstructing the event literally, Les Enfants rouges examines its emotional aftermath through the child’s gaze—through trauma, paralysis, and the rupture of innocence.

A Cinematic Journey Rooted in Place and Flesh

Shot in Tunisia’s interior with both documentary precision and poetic rigor, the film brings to light the country’s deep social and geographical divides. Featuring immersive sound design, a stunning visual style by Wojciech Staroń, and a cast of non-professional local actors, the film vibrates with authenticity and surreal intensity.

A Meditation on Loss, Representation, and Human Dignity

Achour’s film speaks through textures—faces, stones, silences—and questions the violence of media representation, the difficulty of mourning, and the dignity of those left behind. With no sensationalism, Les Enfants rouges becomes a contemporary tragedy of universal resonance, balancing memory work with artistic innovation.

A Landmark Release in Moroccan Theaters

Opening on April 23, 2025, Les Enfants rouges is a film that dares to confront difficult truths. A vital cinematic experience, it compels viewers to reflect on history, trauma, and the invisible weight borne by those who endure.