Ikach
Ikach, is a farce in two acts in popular Arabic, written by André Sarrouy and adapted and directed by himself. A critique of marriage in colonial Algeria at a time when women were little taken into account. Cunning of women and stupidity of husbands, on an original soundtrack composed by Mohamed Iguerbouchène.
Harvest of Steel
Years after Algeria gained independence, war continues to claim lives in Soulima, a border village surrounded by mines, whose victims are too numerous to count. Despite all these deaths, the inhabitants remain rooted in their ancestral land. Among them stands out the noble figure of Zohra, who seems to be the soul of the village...
لحن الأمل (Lahn El-Almel)
Abderrahim is a mechanic and singer in his spare time. One day, he receives a car to repair, driven by a very beautiful girl. It's love at first sight. They want to get married and start a family, but the girl's parents do not view this love favorably. They decide to marry their daughter to another man. Subsequently, Abderrahim became a famous singer. The loss of her love leaves the young girl in a state of silence from which only Abderrahim can break her.
Hiziya
It was from the popular song-poem by Mohamed Ben Guittoun that director Mohamed Hazourli (of the Constantine regional station of RTA) wrote the screenplay. Hiziya Bent Ahmeb Bey, 23 years old, lived in southeastern Algeria, in a village called Sidi Khaled. The daughter of a powerful notable of the Dhouaouda tribe, who regularly migrated through the desert, Hiziya was exceptionally beautiful, to the point that other girls were jealous and envious of her, and men succumbed to her charm. But the young woman's heart belonged to Saïd, an orphan taken in as a child by his uncle. They met in secret and married despite family hostility. A month after their wedding, Hiziya died during the transhumance in the desert. The death of his beloved plunged Saïd into deep grief, to the point that he abandoned his possessions and family to wander the desert.
The Nouba of the Women of Mount Chenoua
Writer and filmmaker Assia Djebar explores Algerian history, the psychological impact of war, and post-colonial female identity in this 1979 classic of film literature. Named for (and taking its structure from) a traditional song with five distinct movements, the film combines documentary-style observation with loose narrative form to tell the story of Lila, an Algerian expatriate returning to her country 15 years after independence has been won. In comparing her life with the lives and experiences of rural Algeriennes, Lila is able to put her childhood demons to rest and discover a new history -- one written in the ongoing strength of generations of women. Like much of Djebar's writing, the film has a strong subtext dealing with resistance to patriarchy and women's desire to appropriate the means of power and expression -- one of which, of course, is the filmmaker's camera.
Sebeiba Festival - Algeria’s 3,000 Year-old Tradition
In Algeria, the Sebeïba (Tifinagh: ⵙⴱⵉⴱⴰ; Arabic: السبيبة) is a competitive celebration observed by two communities in Djanet. It combines dance, song, and the wearing of traditional costumes. In 2014, UNESCO inscribed it on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity under the title "Sebeïba ritual and ceremonies in the oasis of Djanet, Algeria." The Sebeïba rituals and ceremonies offer a fascinating glimpse into the cultural heritage of the Tuareg people, who inhabit the Sahara region and represent a tiny fraction of Algeria's population. At the heart of this ten-day festival lies a fierce music and dance competition between two rival villages, Azellouaz and El Mihan. There can be only one Sebeïba winner—at least until the following year. This unique annual event attracts numerous tourists from around the world.