Category: Screenings

Screening

Leur Algérie

FRA/ALG | 2020 | 70 mins | dir. Lina Soualem | In French and Arabic with EN subs | Cert tbc

After 62 years of living together, Lina’s grandparents, Aïcha and Mabrouk, have decided to separate. Together, they came from Algeria to Thiers, a small medieval town in the middle of France, over 60 years ago. Side by side, they have experienced this chaotic immigrant life. For Lina, their separation is an opportunity to question their long journey of exile and their silence.

The screening on 19 May (8.30pm) will be introduced by author Faïza Guène. See also other screening on 21 May (6.30pm).

As part of Voices of Algeria

See also:

• 143 Sahara Street + Elles
• At War for Algeria
• Out of Algeria: Faïza Guène & Sarah Ardizzone
• The Outsiders: Kamel Daoud, Ben Okri & Agnès Poirier

Screening

FRA | 1963 | 110 mins | dir. Alain Resnais, with Delphine Seyrig, Jean- Baptiste Thierrée, Jean-Pierre Kérien | in French with EN subs | Cert TBC

Delphine Seyrig stars as Hélène, a suburban widow who attempts to rekindle her romance with her childhood sweetheart, whilst her afflicted stepson Bernard is haunted by memories of a girl named Muriel whom he helped torture during the Algerian War. Like much of Resnais’s work, Muriel elaborates on memory and the irrepresentability of horror and violence with a style that borders between classicism and disconcertment.

See also other screening on 18 May (6.10pm).

As part of Voices of Algeria

Screening

FRA | 1963 | 110 mins | dir. Alain Resnais, with Delphine Seyrig, Jean- Baptiste Thierrée, Jean-Pierre Kérien | in French with EN subs | Cert TBC

Delphine Seyrig stars as Hélène, a suburban widow who attempts to rekindle her romance with her childhood sweetheart, whilst her afflicted stepson Bernard is haunted by memories of a girl named Muriel whom he helped torture during the Algerian War. Like much of Resnais’s work, Muriel elaborates on memory and the irrepresentability of horror and violence with a style that borders between classicism and disconcertment.

See also other screening on 22 May (2pm).

As part of Voices of Algeria

Screening

As part of our strand Voices of Algeria, we present two visions of Algeria from 1966 to 2019.

143 Sahara Street

FRA | 2019 | 100 mins | dir. Hassen Ferhani | doc | in French with EN subs | Cert tbc

Hassen Ferhani's quiet documentary 143 Sahara Street is an intimate portrait of a woman, a landscape, and even a country, Algeria. As she engages with the assortment of travelers who come through her door, Malika, owner of an off-the-grid café in the Sahara Desert, discusses religion, the economy, politics, and family.
 
Elles

ALG |1966 | 22 mins | dir. Ahmed Lallem | in French with EN subs | Cert tbc

In Ahmed Lallem’s 1966 short film Elles, Algerian schoolgirls elucidate on their position in society four years after the country gained independence from France, revealing how they envisage the future, democracy, their place in society.

The screening on 17 May (8.30pm) will be introduced by author Kamel Daoud.

See also:

• At War for Algeria
• Out of Algeria: Faïza Guène & Sarah Ardizzone
• Their Algeria introduced by Faïza Guène
• The Outsiders: Kamel Daoud, Ben Okri & Agnès Poirier

Screening

As part of our strand Voices of Algeria, we present two visions of Algeria from 1966 to 2019.

143 Sahara Street

FRA | 2019 | 100 mins | dir. Hassen Ferhani | doc | in French with EN subs | Cert tbc

Hassen Ferhani's quiet documentary 143 Sahara Street is an intimate portrait of a woman, a landscape, and even a country, Algeria. As she engages with the assortment of travelers who come through her door, Malika, owner of an off-the-grid café in the Sahara Desert, discusses religion, the economy, politics, and family.
 
Elles

ALG |1966 | 22 mins | dir. Ahmed Lallem | in French with EN subs | Cert tbc

In Ahmed Lallem’s 1966 short film Elles, Algerian schoolgirls elucidate on their position in society four years after the country gained independence from France, revealing how they envisage the future, democracy, their place in society.

The screening on 17 May (8.30pm) will be introduced by author Kamel Daoud. See also other screening on 22 May (3.30pm).

See also:

• At War for Algeria
• Out of Algeria: Faïza Guène & Sarah Ardizzone
• Their Algeria introduced by Faïza Guène
• The Outsiders: Kamel Daoud, Ben Okri & Agnès Poirier

Screening

Les Illusions perdues

FRA | 2021 | 149 mins | dir. Xavier Giannoli, with Benjamin Voisin, Cecile De France, Vincent Lacoste | In French with EN subs

Adapted from Honoré de Balzac’s masterpiece, Lost Illusions charts the life of ambitious romantic poet Lucien de Rubempré (Benjamin Voisin) as he ascends through the hierarchy of 19th century high society. Lost Illusions is an epic and visually sumptuous costume drama that chronicles the erosion of romanticism and idealism as Lucien is corrupted by the trappings of success and falls victim to his own hubris. Presented at the Venice Film Festival, the film won 7 César Awards this year, including Best Film.

See also Lost Illusions release screenings here

Screening

Les Illusions perdues

FRA | 2021 | 149 mins | dir. Xavier Giannoli, with Benjamin Voisin, Cecile De France, Vincent Lacoste | In French with EN subs | UK Premiere

Adapted from Honoré de Balzac’s masterpiece, Lost Illusions charts the life of ambitious romantic poet Lucien de Rubempré (Benjamin Voisin) as he ascends through the hierarchy of 19th century high society. Lost Illusions is an epic and visually sumptuous costume drama that chronicles the erosion of romanticism and idealism as Lucien is corrupted by the trappings of success and falls victim to his own hubris. Presented at the Venice Film Festival, the film won 7 César Awards this year, including Best Film.

See also Lost Illusions release screenings here

Screening + Q&A

FRA | 2021 | 83 mins | dir. Jean-Gabriel Périot, narrated by Adèle Haenel | in French with EN subs

A fascinating reflection on working class life in France over the past 70 years, Jean-Gabriel Périot’s documentary is a loose adaptation of fragments from Didier Eribon’s 2009 memoir Returning to Reims, in which he evokes his return to the hometown he had abandoned 30 years earlier. Adèle Haenel narrates the story of a prodigal child returning home and a reconciliation that prompts discussion of a mother’s life, marriage, and the opportunities she and other women never had.

Followed by a Q&A with philosopher and author Didier Eribon

Related / Latest Publication:

Didier Eribon, Returning to Reims translated by Michael Lucey, (Penguin Books, 2019)