Halfaouine: Boy of the Terraces

Twelve-year-old Noura dangles uncertainly in that difficult netherworld between childhood and adulthood. His growing libido has gotten him banned from the women's baths, where his mother took him when he was younger, but he's not yet old enough to participate in grown-up discussions with the men of his Tunisian village. Noura's only real friend is a troublemaker named Salih -- the village political outcast.

Directed by Férid Boughedir, Halfaouine: Boy of the Terraces leans on a strong ensemble — Selim Boughedir, Mustafa Adouani, Rabia Ben Abdallah — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 1990.