This first feature by Yamina Bachir-Chouikh is
a courageous, violent, provocative and disturbing film about the sickening
social and political situation in Algeria during the worst years of
terrorism. Rachida (a striking performance from Bahia Rachedi)
is a 20 year old teacher in a popular region of Algiers. One morning
on her way to work she is surrounded by a group of terrorists who
try and force her to take a bomb into the school - she refuses, she
is shot and left for dead. Though she recovers, she flees the city
to live with her mother ( Rachida Messaouden) herself in self imposed
exile since her divorce. Presenting a time in Algeria's history when
both fundamentalist and government militias perpetuated crimes against
the most vulnerable in the community, and the public felt impotent
against the force, this is not easy viewing. Yet the portrayal of
courageous women fighting its gratuitous, unjustified self-destructive
violence, gives some room for hope
This first feature by Yamina Bachir-Chouikh is
a courageous, violent, provocative and disturbing film about the sickening
social and political situation in Algeria during the worst years of
terrorism. Rachida (a striking performance from Bahia Rachedi)
is a 20 year old teacher in a popular region of Algiers. One morning
on her way to work she is surrounded by a group of terrorists who
try and force her to take a bomb into the school - she refuses, she
is shot and left for dead. Though she recovers, she flees the city
to live with her mother ( Rachida Messaouden) herself in self imposed
exile since her divorce. Presenting a time in Algeria's history when
both fundamentalist and government militias perpetuated crimes against
the most vulnerable in the community, and the public felt impotent
against the force, this is not easy viewing. Yet the portrayal of
courageous women fighting its gratuitous, unjustified self-destructive
violence, gives some room for hope
France/Algeria