Tunisian filmmaker Anis Lassoued’s film A Second Life is replete with delicate, symbolic contrasts that give this contemporary tragedy a mythical and timeless flair.
The film is ensconced in the perspective of a boy aged 12 who goes by the name Gadeha, or "flame" in Arabic.
The moniker, which is also the film’s Arabic title, was given to him by his father, who left for Italy years ago, embarking on a perilous sea voyage that many take while illegally immigrating to Europe. That was the last the young Gadeha had heard from his father.
As such, the sea has always been a representation of longing for the boy, who spends most of his time on the beach with his friends, pilfering phones and catcalling passers-by.
That is, until he is involved in a car accident.
Warning: spoilers ahead.
Unable to afford his medical bills, Gadeha’s mother, Borkana, finds help from a family of do-gooders, who also have a son in the hospital seeking treatment for a chronic kidney disease.
Gadeha soon wakes up to find that the family has not only covered his medical expenses, but have also offered his mother, sister and him a house to live in. The family also proposes enrolling Gadeha in an upscale private French school, the same attended by their own son.
Gadeha becomes uneasy and suspicious. He can’t shake the feeling that something is terribly amiss, despite the benevolence of his hosts. Meanwhile, a friendship develops between Gadeha and the family’s son, Ousamma, who is recovering from a kidney transplant.
It doesn’t take long for Gadeha to figure out what has happened, as he discovers his own missing kidney and how his mother bartered his organ for a new, improved life.
The pain of his estrangement from his father, and his mother's betrayal, drives the boy away from both his family and Ousamma, and towards the sea. From then on, the tension in the film steadily rises as one tragedy inflicts another, in a series of events that resolve on an emblematic note.
A Second Life producer and actress Chema Ben Chaabene, who wrote the script along with Lassoued, said much of the film is dependent on the characters of the children, particularly Gadeha, and the team spent a long time looking for the right person to play the titular role before casting Yassine Tormsi.
“We began working on the script in 2016 and, after casting Yassine, spent a period of six months with him preparing for the role,” Ben Chaabene said, during a discussion at the Amman International Film Festival, where the film screened last week. “We then had a further rehearsal process, where he trained with theatre actors, young and experienced.”
While most of the cast come from theatre backgrounds in Tunisia, Ben Chaabene said the children featured in the film, as well as Borkana, are all portrayed by debut actors.
“This isn’t the first time Anis is working with children. He previously worked with children in his short films and documentary. He treats them as if they are experienced actors, even if it is their first time acting.”
While organ trade has an instigating role in A Second Life, Ben Chaabene said it merely served as a premise to explore the effects of a parent’s absence. It was incorporated as a plot point after news reports began circulating about children being kidnapped in the rural areas of Tunisia.
“Their kidneys would be harvested and then they’d be returned with an envelope of money,” Ben Chaabene said. “It was shocking. Then there were those who were forced to sell their children’s kidneys due to their dire financial situation. The character of Borkana was inspired by this.
“The weight of that decision is not just on Borkana,” she said. “Even the other side, the parents that took the kidney for their son, even they were wrecked by guilt. They stole this organ from a young boy. They were feeling guilty but were facing the death of their son. It’s quite the struggle.”
Another news story also inspired one of the most crucial scenes in the film: as Gadeha becomes aware of the deal his mother made with the family, he runs back towards the sea, trying to get close to his father and soon falls unconscious face down in the sand.
The shot was inspired by the picture of Alan Kurdi, the Syrian boy aged 2 who drowned in 2015 in the Mediterranean sea as he and his family were trying to reach Europe. Kurdi’s image quickly went viral and became a symbol of the wider refugee crisis.
“The scene in the film reflects upon that,” Ben Chaabene said. “Of being a child on the margins of life and not having a say in your fate.”
Scroll through the gallery below to see more of Amman International Film Festival 2022.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 1050Nm
Range: 450km
Price: Dh601,800
On sale: now
CRICKET%20WORLD%20CUP%20LEAGUE%202
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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THREE
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Poacher
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
More on Quran memorisation:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wes%20Ball%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Owen%20Teague%2C%20Freya%20Allen%2C%20Kevin%20Durand%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Feeding the thousands for iftar
Six industrial scale vats of 500litres each are used to cook the kanji or broth
Each vat contains kanji or porridge to feed 1,000 people
The rice porridge is poured into a 500ml plastic box
350 plastic tubs are placed in one container trolley
Each aluminium container trolley weighing 300kg is unloaded by a small crane fitted on a truck
SPECS
Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman
Engine: two-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 306hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: JCW Clubman, Dh220,500; JCW Countryman, Dh225,500
CHINESE GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2nd row
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
3rd row
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing)
4th row
Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
Sergio Perez (Force India)
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Carlos Sainz Jr (Renault)
Romain Grosjean (Haas)
6th row
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Esteban Ocon (Force India)
7th row
Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
8th row
Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
9th row
Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
Lance Stroll (Williams)
10th row
Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
arcus Ericsson (Sauber)
How%20to%20avoid%20getting%20scammed
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENever%20click%20on%20links%20provided%20via%20app%20or%20SMS%2C%20even%20if%20they%20seem%20to%20come%20from%20authorised%20senders%20at%20first%20glance%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAlways%20double-check%20the%20authenticity%20of%20websites%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEnable%20Two-Factor%20Authentication%20(2FA)%20for%20all%20your%20working%20and%20personal%20services%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOnly%20use%20official%20links%20published%20by%20the%20respective%20entity%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDouble-check%20the%20web%20addresses%20to%20reduce%20exposure%20to%20fake%20sites%20created%20with%20domain%20names%20containing%20spelling%20errors%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Five personal finance podcasts from The National
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: SimpliFi
Started: August 2021
Founder: Ali Sattar
Based: UAE
Industry: Finance, technology
Investors: 4DX, Rally Cap, Raed, Global Founders, Sukna and individuals
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