Railway Men

Railway Men (original title: "As-Sekka") is a documentary film directed by Erige Sehiri. Released in 2019, the film provides an intimate and thought-provoking exploration of the lives of Tunisian railway workers who labor on Line #1, affectionately referred to as La voie normale (the normal track). Despite its significance as the only railway in Tunisia built to international norms, Line #1 also bears the burden of being the most neglected.

Synopsis
The film takes viewers on a captivating journey through the breathtaking landscapes of northern Tunisia, where an aging locomotive must be constantly patched up to keep running. Against this backdrop, we meet the film's protagonists: Ahmed, Afef, Issam, Abee, and Najib. These railway men and women grapple with their loyalty to the National Railway Company and their personal aspirations. As a new generation of workers, they redefine their vision of work in a society that strives to create a democratic way of existing.

Fitati, Ahmed's colleague, chooses a different path. He becomes a whistleblower, exposing train accidents and adding another layer of tension and complexity to their experiences. The film captures the essence of transformation and societal change in post-revolutionary Tunisia.