Directed by:
Rachid BoucharebCinematography:
Christophe BeaucarneComposer:
Armand AmarCast:
Jamel Debbouze, Roschdy Zem, Sami Bouajila, Sabrina Seyvecou, Assaad Bouab, Bernard Blancan, Jean-Pierre Lorit, Ahmed Benaissa, Thibault de Montalembert (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
An Algerian family struggles for freedom in this lavish historical drama from filmmaker Rachid Bouchareb. Opening with a preface in which French colonists force an Algerian family from their home in 1925, the film jumps forward to 1945, as Allied forces announce their victory in Europe. The news coincides with a demonstration in Setif, in which Algerians demand their independence from France. Said (Jamel Debbouze) is more interested in boxing than politics, but when his father is killed and his brother Abdelkader (Sami Bouajila) is arrested by French troops during the protest, his attitude begins to change. In 1953, Said makes a living running a bar and looking after a handful of prostitutes, much to the chagrin of his mother, and his brother Messaoud (Roschdy Zem) returns home from a hitch in the army, where he fought for France in Indochina. Messaoud decides to put his military training to use by joining Abdelkader in a rebel group, the National Liberation Front, to drive the French out of Algeria. French military officer Colonel Faivre (Bernard Blancan) refuses to deal with the NLF, and assembles a secret battalion to counter their actions, leading to bloody conflicts in the streets. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Jamel Debbouze
France
Best movies:
Amélie (2001)
Angel-A (2005)
Chicken with Plums (2011)
Roschdy Zem
France
Best movies:
Go, See, and Become (2005)
Don’t Forget You’re Going to Die (1995)
The Edge of the Blade (2023)
Sami Bouajila
France
Best movies:
A Son (2019)
The Advocate (1993)
London River (2009)
Sabrina Seyvecou
Best movies:
My Way (2012)
Cockles and Muscles (2005)
He Loves Me... He Loves Me Not (2002)
Assaad Bouab
France
Best movies:
Close to Leo (2002) (TV movie)
Inside the Cell (2015)
Overdose (2022)
Bernard Blancan
France
Best movies:
Cyrano, My Love (2018)
The Connection (2014)
London River (2009)
Jean-Pierre Lorit
Best movies:
Three Colours: Red (1994)
The Round Up (2010)
Mr & Mme Adelman (2017)
Ahmed Benaissa
Best movies:
Nuits d'Arabie (2007)
Outside the Law (2010)
Close Enemies (2018)
Thibault de Montalembert
France
Best movies:
The Sentinel (1992)
Indochine (1992)
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
Samir Guesmi
France
Best movies:
Savage Nights (1992)
13th District (2004)
Elisa (1995)
Abdelkader Secteur
Best movies:
Homeland (2013)
Outside the Law (2010)
Corentin Lobet
Belgium
Best movies:
Séraphine (2008)
The Last Diamond (2014)
A Lady in Paris (2012)
Damien Bonnard
France
Best movies:
The Edge of the Blade (2023)
Poor Things (2023)
Dunkirk (2017)
Alain Blazquez
France
Best movies:
The Advocate (1993)
Freedom (2009)
One for the Road (2009)
Régis Romele
Best movies:
The Names of Love (2010)
Skirt Day (2008)
El barco (2011) (series)
Christian Crahay
Best movies:
Night and Day (1991)
Maigret (1991) (series)
The Truth (2019)
Gwendolyn Gourvenec
France
Best movies:
Superheroes (2021)
Yao (2018)
Delicacy (2011)
Larbi Zekkal
Best movies:
Outside the Law (2010)
Mohamed Djouhari
Best movies:
Nuits d'Arabie (2007)
Outside the Law (2010)
Yassine Fadel
Best movies:
Little Tickles (2018)
Polina (2016)
All My Friends Are Dead (2020)