The Season of Men

Said rejected Aziz after learning about his developmental issues (likely autism). Unable to accept having a son with special needs, he turned his back on both Aïcha and Aziz. This rejection forced Aïcha to make the painful decision to leave Tunis and return to Djerba with her children, as she received no support from her husband in caring for their son.

Aïcha returned to Djerba because Said refused to support her and their son Aziz after the diagnosis of developmental issues. With no help from her husband and facing the challenges of raising a child with special needs alone in Tunis, she made the heart-wrenching choice to retreat to her familiar world on the island, where she had family support.

Aïcha supports her family by creating intricate tapestries on a loom. She collaborates with Aziz to weave these textiles, which she then sells. This work becomes a vital source of income for the family, providing both financial stability and emotional solace as mother and son work together.

Aïcha's younger daughter Emna prepares to leave Djerba, marking a significant transition in the family dynamic. This departure symbolizes both an ending and a new beginning for the family, as Emna ventures out into the world while Aïcha remains on the island with Aziz.

Before Aïcha could join Said in Tunis, he expressed a strong desire for her to give him a son. This request reflected traditional expectations placed on women in their community, where bearing a male child was often seen as a wife's primary duty and a requirement for the family to be complete.

Despite the challenges of raising a son with developmental issues, Aïcha and Aziz have developed a deep bond. They find solace in collaborating on the loom, creating tapestries together. This shared creative work has become a source of comfort and connection between mother and son, helping them navigate their reality on Djerba.

Djerba is portrayed as a matriarchal society where women hold unique power and authority. When Aïcha returns with her children, she enters this supportive social structure that contrasts sharply with the isolation she faced in Tunis after Said rejected Aziz. The island community provides her with a network of women who understand and support each other.

Weaving serves as both practical income and symbolic healing in the film. The tapestries Aïcha and Aziz create together represent their bond and shared resilience. The slow, meditative process of weaving mirrors the film's contemplative pacing and reflects how Aïcha literally and metaphorically weaves together the fabric of her family's daily life after hardship.

At eighteen, Aïcha was married to Said, who frequently worked in Tunis. In Djerba's traditional setting, she lived under the strict authority of her mother-in-law, alongside other wives who also waited for their husbands to return. This arrangement reflects the social structure of the community where married women are expected to服从 familial hierarchy.

The ending is bittersweet because while Aïcha and Aziz find comfort in their deepened relationship and continue their journey together on Djerba, this solace is offset by the departure of Emna and the enduring challenges they face. There is warmth in their bond, but also sadness in loss and the ongoing difficulties of their situation.