Le chant des mariées 2008

Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: This seductively fluid and tactile drama explores love and identity through the prism of the female body and the rights of its owner. Read more

Time Out: While a lesser filmmaker might be content to remain within the confines of corrosive zealotry, Albou proves her mettle by using religion as a conduit for exploring women's issues. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: The movie's distinction .. lies in two lovely performances, and in the passion and pain of parallel lives -- both girls suffering at the hands of men, both struggling to understand the brutality of the world they must share. Read more

Nathan Rabin, AV Club: The bond between Brochere and Borval is more physical than verbal; they often seem on the verge of a deep, soulful lip-lock, but since neither character is developed satisfactorily, it's hard to develop a rooting interest in...their friendship. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: Writer-director Karin Albou (who plays the mother of the Jewish bride) has a sensuous, intimate filmmaking style that overrides The Wedding Song's more precariously loaded plot parallels. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: With intimacy and sensuality, Albou explores what it means to be a woman and the bonds that women form with each other in an increasingly precarious situation. Read more

V.A. Musetto, New York Post: An intelligently written and directed story of two 16-year-old girls -- one Jewish and one Muslim -- and their friendship in Tunis during the Nazi occupation in the 1940s. Read more

Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: The girls' intense friendship, their hopes of love, and their attempt to overcome the crushing obstacles of cultural differences and racist politics, are the heart of Albou's concern. Read more

Boyd van Hoeij, Variety: A bold, very carnal take on adolescent female bonding in a setting not often portrayed onscreen. Small but ambitious movie should be able to sing its way into fests and arthouses. Read more

Ella Taylor, Village Voice: This spirited film sustains its momentum as a tale of powerless women uniting to take back control of their destinies. Read more