The place the Wind Comes From assessment: This Tunisian highway journey comedy is an immediate triumph

The premise

Alyssa (Eya Bellagha) is bored with having to always handle her unwell mom and little sister. She needs to exit of her hometown and do one thing higher along with her life, a sense most 19-year-olds can fathom. She finds the right alternative when she stumbles upon an artwork competitors that gives the profitable artist a visit out of Tunisia. Alyssa would not draw however her good friend Mehdi (Slim Baccar) can, extraordinarily nicely. Though he has a level in Pc Science, his actual ardour lies within the arts. Alyssa convinces Mehdi to offer this artwork contest an opportunity, and in the event that they win, she may be his spouse, and the remaining may be sorted out on the way in which.

However how will they attain the competition? Who will give them the automobile? How will they handle a lot cash? Alyssa has a solution to every query Mehdi asks, even when meaning getting each of them into bother. As soon as they set off, the movie takes form, asserting its tone with extra care. For all of the anticipation of how this can end up for the each of them, Amel Guellaty’s clever script by no means takes the acquainted romantic beats.

The writing is devoid of straightforward sentimentality and offers house for these two younger individuals to attach and have enjoyable. Guellaty, who has additionally edited the movie, maintains a simple rhythm within the scenes, the place the viewer can also be conscious of Alyssa and Mehdi’s inside development alongside the way in which. Simply as evidently a scene tags alongside just a little too slowly (the nightclub women’ washroom one specifically), Guellaty pulls the threads collectively to take the wheel ahead. It doesn’t matter the place they may find yourself so long as they’re collectively.

What works

The place the Wind Comes From has its coronary heart in the proper place. It’s a movie that gives a refreshing tackle the highway journey comedy and acknowledges the anxieties and fears of this era. Which works in the identical manner that Alyssa’s go-getter angle by no means feels pretend. She is like this as a result of she can not see how else she will discover, in a largely patriarchal world, what she needs from her life. “If we will not even dream, what’s left for us?” she asks. In distinction, Mehdi’s thoughtfulness stands out all of the extra vividly. On one event, Alyssa sees some wealthy acquaintances as pigs. She is aware of these individuals all too nicely; their ugly sophistication is evident as daylight to her. Fortunately, Mehdi stops her when she needs to talk her thoughts.

Each the leads are improbable. Eya Bellagha has such a simple display presence as Alyssa, infusing her rebel with a definite sense of objective. If there is a tune that might match her persona, it might undoubtedly be Excellent Locations by Lorde. She can also be hilarious in a scene the place she manages meals from a store with out cash. Slim Baccar’s Mehdi is silent and extra cautious however learns to offer in to the loopy journey that awaits him. Collectively, they share a beautiful chemistry, so very important for the movie to work in its stressed second half. The place the Wind Comes From is a small miracle of a movie with an enormous, big coronary heart. I’d embark on an journey with Alyssa and Mehdi even when they did not ask me.

Santanu Das is overlaying Sundance Movie Competition 2025 as a part of the accredited press.