How prodigious! The very existence of such a film is just amazing. Imagine that : the Algerian government is hostile to Kabylians ..., the country is plagued by rampant Islamic and state terrorism ... and an undaunted team of motivated local artists manages to make a picture in Kabylia - and in Berber into the bargain ! The feat deserves praise but the trouble is that, as a movie, "La Colline oubliée" is very boring.
Of course there are good points : beautiful landscapes, fine Kabylian dresses and jewels, plus a lovely village. In addition both the cinematography and the sound are of good quality. Of course we more or less sense the doom hanging over the forgotten hill : remoteness, poverty, tradition and war will take their toll for certain. Nevertheless, all these qualities are wasted by the clumsiness of the narrative and of the acting, by the naivety of the writer-director and his never-ending efforts to be serious. Enough is enough !
Too bad. I would rather have liked this film. I didn't but I nonetheless pay homage to Abderrahmane Bouguermouh's courage.
Of course there are good points : beautiful landscapes, fine Kabylian dresses and jewels, plus a lovely village. In addition both the cinematography and the sound are of good quality. Of course we more or less sense the doom hanging over the forgotten hill : remoteness, poverty, tradition and war will take their toll for certain. Nevertheless, all these qualities are wasted by the clumsiness of the narrative and of the acting, by the naivety of the writer-director and his never-ending efforts to be serious. Enough is enough !
Too bad. I would rather have liked this film. I didn't but I nonetheless pay homage to Abderrahmane Bouguermouh's courage.
