OVID.tv Presents MIMOSAS Film Review — Persevering Faith, Is It Enough?

Posted on by Nzinga Temu

The noble rogue Saïd wraps his long scarf around his head to protect himself from the inescapable bright sun beaming down on the expansive North African plains. It is one of many prolonged, silent moments where we are left to examine the details of the subject’s activities, or lack thereof. The haggard face of the dying sheikh appears on the screen as we are presented with the subject of the conflict; he must be transported to his hometown to die in peace. It’s a fitting environment for the task: the snow-capped mountains gathered in the distance contribute to the scenery’s tranquility, like massive sage-like creatures observing an important being going to rest. The air of frustration amongst the people meant to transport him is expressed in exhausted expressions and irritated remarks.

In an urban area, men of all ages gather in a car yard, clustered thickly around one man reading jobs and names off a clipboard. Again, frustration and impatience are apparent as people shout over each other to be chosen for that day’s employment. Just adjacent to this chaos, we meet Shakib, who stands in the center of a group of older men, preaching a story about demons and holy creatures.

OVID.tv’s MIMOSAS Shows Perseverance Rooted in Faith

Mimosas is divided into three sections, each one named for a different prayer position from the rakat in Islamic faith: first Ruku, bowing position, second Qiyam, standing position, and last, Sajdah, prostrating position. You, like this writer who is not a person of Islamic faith, may need to do research to understand the significance of these positions and of the rakat to understand and make connections between the scenes within each section.

In episodes marked by these faith-significant titles, Shakib, Saïd, and another rogue named Ahmed take on the intimidating task of the sheikh alone. Their dynamic initially is that of a golden retriever and two languid cats: Shakib is optimistic, determined, and comes off immediately as naive to the two older men without ambition. Shakib’s idealistic attitude irritates and confuses them. Yet the three persist together on their journey to find the sheikh’s resting place.

A Story Told in Landscapes

The film is solemn with a limited musical score, many contemplative silences, and a cast of characters who carry on through difficult lives. Shakib is the film’s powerful force of bright unsquashable faith-driven motivation and optimism as he motivates Ahmed and Saïd to become better people by simply being the person he is. His personality and idealism are as grand as the photographic shots of the landscape they traverse. As the camera pans wide over the group as they wobble over grassy hills holding the shiekh between them, and wade through shimmering and treacherous rivers burbling with gravel, it’s easy to compare the grandiosity of the scenery to Shakib’s opinions on life, which are always expressed with a tone that seems to carry all the force of nature.

By no means does this film lead you gently through the narrative; much of the plot goes without explicit explanation. The fate of the characters is left to the imagination and understanding of the audience. This writer would recommend Mimosas to fans of foreign films and people who like to think deeply about the stories that they consume. However, if you would like to cruise through a straightforward plotline, this may not be the narrative for you.

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Creative Team:
Director: Oliver Laxe
Writers: Santiago Fillol, Oliver Laxe

Cast:
Ahmed Hammoud
Shakib Ben Omar
Said Aagli

For more information on this film and how to see it, please view the OVID.tv webpage for MIMOSAS.

Images courtesy of OVID.tv

Nzinga Temu

About the Author: Nzinga Temu

Novelists should know that Nzinga Temu is measuring you by what could be called The Goldfinch standard.  She was 16 and ending an unusual reading drought caused by the demands of college applications and the like, when a friend gave her Donna Tartt’s prize winning novel.  It’s a tome if measured by length; yet a gripping ride without a moment of drone by Nzinga’s measure.

When she’s on the other side of Howard University, expect Nzinga to apply this tough-act-to-beat standard to herself, as she delights the world with her first novel.

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