In Four Daughters, Kaouther Ben Hania invites the audience to become the fifth sister and experience the ups and downs alongside the Chikhaoui family.
In 2016, the Chikhaoui family was hit with the devastating news that two of Olfa Houmani’s four teenage daughters left Tunisia to join and fight with Daesh in Libya. Speaking to the camera in Ben Hania’s remarkable docu-fiction, Olfa shifts blames from the government – for allowing jihadist to preach and push their views to blame her own cruel, often abusive and smothering mothering. The director brilliantly navigates their divided family dynamic. Two actors play the two sisters, who are Daesh rebels in scenes recreating the past, while the younger girls play themselves. Olfa sometimes speaks for herself and for tougher scenes watches as star Hend Sabry stands in for her.
Ben Hania is able to flawlessly mix direct testimonies from Olfa and her two youngest daughters, Eya and Tayssir. It stages pivotal scenes in the family’s storyline. Also, it includes beautifully framed shots with dark shadows and unique angles. Through this mix, the docu-fiction film is able to capture not only the audience’s attention but also their hearts. The women are candid, flawed, and honest and tell their stories with open hearts. They are not women who live far away. They are your sisters, your mothers, your neighbors, your family.
Ben Hania did not have a clear plan or script when shooting the film, which translates into authenticity. The movie tells the story of so many Arab women. In fact, it raises a voice for all the challenges that they face, from sexual violence and forbidden romance to second marriages and religious trauma. It also explores the complicated relationship between mother and daughter. It is important to note that while exploring these problems, Ben Hania never treats it like a teachable moment. She tells the story and leaves it up to the viewer to see, feel, and sympathize.
Watching Four Daughters, you will laugh, cry, hate, forgive, and ultimately love. It is a wild rollercoaster journey that everyone should experience.