In a Whisper (A voix baisse) is Leyla Bouzid’s third feature, which had its world premiere in this year’s Berlinale competition. Lilia (Eya Bouteraa) returns to Tunisia from Paris for her uncle’s funeral, reuniting with a family unaware of her life abroad—particularly her relationship with Alice, the woman she loves. As she confronts long-buried family secrets amid gatherings and the reemergence of old friends, the visit stirs painful memories of why she left in the first place. Determined to uncover the truth behind her uncle’s sudden death, Lilia sets out to unravel the mystery that has haunted her family.

Since this is a one-topic film, the uncle’s secret is obvious. Of course, the film is set in a country where homosexuality is illegal, but the film doesn’t do very much about this fact. If one wishes to be charitable, one could label the film a sobering account of the family without any emotional grandstanding. Unfortunately, the film is remarkably bland. In that regard, it is similar to The Smashing Machine, even if the films don’t have any other similarities.

Talking about the Berlinale – In a Whisper

In a Whisper is yet another film that illustrates my point about what the word “Wettbewerb” actually means. For the second consecutive year, virtually all the selections made many critics scratch their heads. The best aspect of the film is the acting by several thespians, from Eya Bouteraa as Lilia to Hiam Abbass as her mother, though all the actors are good. The cinematography is serviceable, even if the constant use of mirrors is not as profound as the filmmakers might think. In the end, there isn’t much drama around Alice either, even though she occasionally gets overly involved in the grief rituals.

One could label In a Whisper subtle, but that wouldn’t account for the boredom which is bound to hit the spectator at several moments during the 113-minute runtime. The subject matter alone will surely attract some spectators and even more critics. The truth is that even though the film will screen at many festivals, its blandness will test many people’s patience.

Screened at the 2026 Berlinale competition, where it failed to win any awards.