Erige Sehiri makes her fiction and feature debut with this sun-dappled pastoral day in the lives of Tunisian workers harvesting figs.

There is no single story line or main protagonist and Sehiri weaves between the women and men of different generations as they gossip, flirt, argue, share food and confront their perpetually disappointed boss. The themes are around love (finding it, losing it, yearning for it), generational change and vulnerability. The women seem such a strong force as they tease and chide each other but they know the value of an amenable man and the danger of not acquiescing.

The cinematography stays in close, keeping us under the shade of the trees and within the various pockets of intrigue and friendship. It feels like a Rohmer film in its simplicity and the soporific feel of the summer’s day. It means the small moments of drama are welcome, as are the occasional songs and the expansive feel of the final scene.

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