Year of release: 2001
The film tells the story of Railla, born in a remote village in Algeria and adopted by a Swiss couple shortly after her birth. Aged nineteen, the beautiful Railla is intent on finding her mother Keltoum in order to confront her about having abandoned her.
Filed under: Daughters | Journey | Maghrebi French | Mothers | Secrets
Year of release: 2010
This ethnic comedy examines the simple question why some ethnicities are 'more acceptable' in French contemporary society than others. The film centres on Mourad (played by the popular actor Kad Merad, himself of Algerian origin), who passes as an Italian called Dino Fabrizzi and works as a Maserati car dealer. All is well until his sick father asks him to observe the Ramadan in his stead.
Filed under: Inter-ethnic romance | Maghrebi French | Religion | Secrets | Sons | Wedding / Marriage
Year of release: 1998
Based on the eponymous autobiographical novel by Azouz Begag, this coming-of-age story tells the story of nine-year-old Omar, the son of an Algerian immigrant family, who grows up in a bidonville, a shanty-town on the outskirts of Lyon.
Filed under: Coming of age | Maghrebi French
Year of release: 2000
At the film's centre are Désiree, an androgynous black woman, and Yasmine, a more conventionally feminine beurette. They vie for the affection of the black gang leader Toussaint, who combines all possible stereotypes of male violence and delinquency, including gang raping young ethnic minority women who inhabit the banlieue, where La Squale is set.
Filed under: Daughters | Maghrebi French | Mothers | Patriarchy