People & Power
Leaving Tunisia
Despite the recent revolution, thousands of Tunisians are risking their lives in search of a new life in Europe.
Filmmakers: Alexandra Deniau and Francois Renaut
In January 2011, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia’s president, was ousted from office. Twenty-three years of brutal dictatorship had come to an end. But despite the celebrations, thousands of Tunisia’s young men continue to risk their lives to travel to Europe, convinced their country has no future.
Haytem is one of them and he believes that there is nothing left for him in Tunisia. He is on his third attempt to make it to France aboard one of the overcrowded people smuggling boats that run between Tunisia and the Italian island of Lampedusa.
On his last attempt the ship he was travelling on sunk, drowning 31 of the 120 passengers. Haytem saved five people from drowning after the collision with another boat. But this experience has not lessened his ambitions to try again.
Under often life-threatening circumstances the film reveals the stories and desperation of young men who are prepared to die rather than put their faith in a homeland which they believe can never fulfill their dreams.