Harka

Contra (aka Before The Spring) (Working title)

Feature Film | 2021-2022 | France, Germany, Luxembourg, Tunisia, USA

Main data

Director	Lotfy Nathan
Written by	Lotfy Nathan
Production	Cinenovo [fr], Beachside Films [us], Anonymous Content [us], Cinétéléfilms [tn], Detailfilm GmbH, Kodiak Pictures [us], Spacemaker Productions [us], Summertime Entertainment [us], Tarantula Luxembourg, Wrong Men [be/gr], ZDF / Das kleine Fernsehspiel [de], Arte [de/fr]
Distributor	Film Constellation [uk], Dulac Distribution [fr]

Shooting data

Locations	Tunisia
Filming regions	Tunisia

Project data

Length of movie	82 min
Acquisition format	35mm
Sound format	Dolby SRD / Dolby digital (5.1, 6 channels)

Trailers/Videos

[fr] Trailer with french subtitles - Dulac

Stills

Posters

Brief synopsis

A modern day parable about resistance, the film centers on the story of Ali, a young Tunisian who dreams of a better life, making a precarious living selling contraband gas at the local black market. When his father suddenly dies, he’s forced to take charge of his two younger sisters and their impending eviction. What ensues is a fight for dignity. The voice of a generation trying to be heard.

Cast

Actor	Role name	Voice actor / SpeakerVoice actor
Adam Bessa	Ali [L]
Salima Maatoug	Alyssa [SR]
Ikbal Harbi	Sarra [SR]
Najib Allagui	Omar [SR]
Khaled Brahmi	Skander [SR]

Crew

Activity	Name	Comment
Director of photography	Maximilian Pittner
2nd assistant camera	Leonie Scheufler Kameratest 35mm	Kameratest 35mm
Costume designer	Randa Khedher
Director	Lotfy Nathan
Editor	Sophie Corra
Editor	Thomas Niles
Key makeup artist	Amel Ouechtati
Composer	Eli Keszler
Producer	Julie Viez
Executive producer	Ani Schroeter
Co-producer	Habib Attia Cinetelefilms	Cinetelefilms
Co-producer	Tariq Merhab Anonymous Content	Anonymous Content
Co-producer	Leo Merkel DETAiLFILM GmbH	DETAiLFILM GmbH
Co-producer	Fabian Gasmia Detailfilm GmbH	Detailfilm GmbH
Co-producer	Nicole Romano Anonymous Content	Anonymous Content
Co-producer	Benoît Roland Wrong Men	Wrong Men
Co-producer	Maurice Fadida Summertime	Summertime
Co-producer	Donato Rotunno Tarantula	Tarantula
Production designer	Mohsen Raies
Unit manager (local system)	Ymed Kefi
Screenwriter	Lotfy Nathan
Production sound mixer	Tarek Tiba
Sound re-recording mixer	Bruno Ehlinger
Sound re-recording mixer	Loïc Collignon
Sound editor	Philippe Deschamps
Sound effects editor	Karim Toukabri
Foley artist	Nicolas Fioraso
Commissioning editor	Jörg Schneider [1]
Commissioning editor	Doris Hepp

Production companies

Company	Comment
Cinenovo [fr]
Beachside Films [us]
Anonymous Content [us]
Cinétéléfilms [tn]
Detailfilm GmbH
Kodiak Pictures [us]
Spacemaker Productions [us]
Summertime Entertainment [us]
Tarantula Luxembourg
Wrong Men [be/gr] Wrong Men North	Wrong Men North
ZDF / Das kleine Fernsehspiel [de] co-production	co-production
Arte [de/fr] collaboration	collaboration

Distribution / Sales companies

Company	Comment
Film Constellation [uk] World Sales	World Sales
Dulac Distribution [fr] France (theatrical)	France (theatrical)

Facilities

Department	Company	Comment
Film Stock	Kodak GmbH [de]

Awards

Award winner	Year	Award	Category
Adam Bessa	2022	Festival de Cannes - Un Certain Regard [fr] Best Performance Prize	Best Performance Prize	Winner

Festivals

Year	Country	Festival	Comment
2023	Turkey	Istanbul Film Festival
2022	France	Festival de Cannes Un certain regard	Un certain regard
2022	Germany	Filmfest Hamburg

Cinema releases and premieres

Type	Country	Date	Comment
Theatre release	France	Wednesday, 02/11/2022
Premiere		Thursday, 19/05/2022	Festival de Cannes [fr]

Crew United