A first feature from Swiss-Tunisian director Nadia Fares, Honey and Ashes follows the stories of three North African women: rebellious young Leila, who chooses freedom over her family; Amina, whose violent conflicts with her husband force her to reevaluate her marriage; and Naima, a doctor forced to abandon her lover for an arranged marriage. The setting is present-day Tunisia, but despite the modern landscape the attitudes towards women are tenaciously misogynist. Linking its three female protagonists by a single chance encounter, the film weaves an impressionistic meditation on the legacy of the harem. Employing a fluid handheld camera, it offers a rare intimacy with its characters as they each pursue empowerment, with varying degrees of success.-Lisanne Skyler