With his debut family thrillerA Son (2019), which also began its international journey from Venice and featured the acclaimed actor Sami Bouajila in the lead role — winning the Best Actor award in the Orizzonti section — Mehdi Barsaoui has established himself as a prominent director. His talent lies in blending psychological and socio-political depth with intriguing plot twists and the dynamics of genre cinema, thus creating films that not only keep viewers hooked but also offer relevant insights into the local realities from which his stories emerge. Changing identity and starting from scratc…