New Showbiz

You are here:
Ashkal: The Tunisian Investigation

Ashkal: The Tunisian Investigation

2023

Director

Youssef Chebbi

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Set amongst derelict, half-finished apartment complexes of a former regime, the discovery of a mysterious burnt body by two police officers reveals a puzzling repetition of events. As the investigation progresses, a network of violence and corruption is uncovered throughout the city.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.8/10

Good

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film lacks explicit mention of LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. The focus remains strictly on procedural elements and systemic criminal investigations.

Gender Representation

Fair

The story centers on two police officers, though their specific genders are not confirmed. The score reflects a moderate level of potential agency within the genre.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

The film shows high intentionality by centering its narrative in a post-regime Tunisian setting. This disrupts Western-centric gazes by prioritizing local identities and geography.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The narrative prioritizes a critique of traditional institutions and state-sponsored infrastructure. It engages deeply with themes of systemic failure and the decay of authority.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no evidence regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities. No characters are identified as having visible or invisible disabilities.

Strengths

  • Strong cultural specificity that prioritizes non-Western perspectives and local Tunisian identities.
  • Effective use of social realism to critique systemic corruption and institutional instability.
  • Disrupts traditional thriller tropes by focusing on the decay of state-sponsored infrastructure.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lack of explicit representation for LGBTQ+ characters or non-heteronormative identities.
  • Absence of characters portraying physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
  • Limited information regarding the gendered agency of the central protagonists.

AI Analysis

Ashkal succeeds as a piece of social realism that uses a thriller framework to examine systemic decay. Its primary strength is its cultural specificity, which avoids the tropes of Western-centric cinema by grounding the plot in a distinct Tunisian socio-political landscape. The film effectively deconstructs institutional stability by focusing on corruption and the failures of a former regime. This provides a strong foundation for social critique and an interrogation of state authority. However, the film lacks visibility in several intersectional areas. There is no documented representation of LGBTQ+ identities or characters with disabilities, leaving these narrative dimensions unexplored.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.