Mghila Mountain, Tunisia, November 2015. When a jihadist group attacks two very young shepherds, 14-year-old Ashraf is forced to take a macabre message back to his family. Traumatised and trying not to lose his mind, Ashraf finds himself confronted with the powerlessness of his elders, and abandoned by the authorities. Inspired by true events, Red Path is a dream-like plunge into the wounded psyche of a child and his incredible ability to overcome trauma.
The Garden Cinema View:
Between opening with a trek exploring the breathtaking Mghila Mountain, and the film's quiet moments of reflection between two young shepherds, the violence that ruptures Red Path is profoundly shocking. The proceeding action immerses the audience in the trauma of the story's young protagonist and his community. The sense of injustice, and of a life spent trapped in the middle of forces of violence, is both enraging and very sad. There is some sense of catharsis and processing within this brutal world, and strong visual motifs and naturalistic performances from the cast help deliver the film’s sobering and important message.
