Raja Amari's "Satin Rouge" Essay by Mcote

This paper explains that Raja Amari's second film "Satin Rouge" is a real look into Tunisian society and a culturally-based demonstration of the duality of human nature, in which the main character Lilia, a domestic figure as expected by her community, desires to emotionally and sexually express herself through her dancing in the cabaret. The author points out that the use of clothing to illustrate the juxtaposition of two or more characters is very common in near east and far eastern films, such as "Shanghai Triad", in which the use of the contrasting colors are used to suggest the roles played by specific characters. The paper relates that not only is high key lighting used but also, in some instances, back-lighting is used to generate haloing behind the heads of the dancers and Lilia, creating an angelic affect when they perform, leading to a positive view of the dancers.