First I lived in Algeria as a child from 63-66. I was very curious about this movie and how things had changed. I am also a pretty good judge of how authentic it is.
The story revolves around Goucem a 27 year old single woman and her mother. Key to the plot is a prostitute Fifi, they all live in Pension Debussy a hotel in downtown Algiers. (We lived in a hotel not a block away in 1963.) Goucem is involved in a no win relationship with an older married man--her mother lives in her past when she was a dancer and the prostitute--well--turns tricks.
The point of the movie is to show what contemporary life is like on the ground in Algiers with emphasis on women. Islamic fundamentalism is background thunder.
First, I was surprised that French would still be so widely used--one would have thought Arabic after 50 years of independence would have largely displaced it. Algiers looks weatherbeaten and somewhat run down---everything from the phones to the buildings look like they have not been modernized much if at all since 1962. They show the wear and their age. Still I much prefer the old buildings to modern stuff. There appears to be population pressure--lots of traffic and people everywhere. Algeria's economy despite its oil money it has not prospered as it could have--also the schism between the Islamists and the secular populations was devastating amounting to a civil war. There is reference in the movie of things like the water being on only every 3 days--life is poor and rather difficult for most. And with religious orthodoxy flexing its muscles things are getting more restrictive.
I think the movie probably exaggerates the current Frenchness of the population.--playing boules? wearing mink coats? Of course the native Algerians have assumed the middle class roles formerly held by Europeans and along with that the mink coats still....
The movie was very nostalgic for me and I gave it an 8. However it drags the last hour...especially the endless scenes with the mother. It is worth a watch for anyone although probably a 6 is about the right rating.
RECOMMEND
The story revolves around Goucem a 27 year old single woman and her mother. Key to the plot is a prostitute Fifi, they all live in Pension Debussy a hotel in downtown Algiers. (We lived in a hotel not a block away in 1963.) Goucem is involved in a no win relationship with an older married man--her mother lives in her past when she was a dancer and the prostitute--well--turns tricks.
The point of the movie is to show what contemporary life is like on the ground in Algiers with emphasis on women. Islamic fundamentalism is background thunder.
First, I was surprised that French would still be so widely used--one would have thought Arabic after 50 years of independence would have largely displaced it. Algiers looks weatherbeaten and somewhat run down---everything from the phones to the buildings look like they have not been modernized much if at all since 1962. They show the wear and their age. Still I much prefer the old buildings to modern stuff. There appears to be population pressure--lots of traffic and people everywhere. Algeria's economy despite its oil money it has not prospered as it could have--also the schism between the Islamists and the secular populations was devastating amounting to a civil war. There is reference in the movie of things like the water being on only every 3 days--life is poor and rather difficult for most. And with religious orthodoxy flexing its muscles things are getting more restrictive.
I think the movie probably exaggerates the current Frenchness of the population.--playing boules? wearing mink coats? Of course the native Algerians have assumed the middle class roles formerly held by Europeans and along with that the mink coats still....
The movie was very nostalgic for me and I gave it an 8. However it drags the last hour...especially the endless scenes with the mother. It is worth a watch for anyone although probably a 6 is about the right rating.
RECOMMEND