Rome Rather Than You (Roma Wa La N'touma)
Tribute to Algerian Cinema
Tariq Teguia / Feature Narrative / Algeria, France, Germany / 2006 / 111 min / Unknown / 35 mm
In Arabic / Arabic, English subtitles
Interests: Drama
Qatar Premiere
Synopsis
A sort of urban 'slow-motion road movie', to use the words of its director, ‘Rome Rather Than You’ sets out on a journey with Kamel and his girlfriend Zina. They crisscross the centre of Algiers and its deserted suburbs, trying to locate Bosco, a shady character known to assist hopeful emigrants get to Europe by providing them fake passports. In the end, in their quest to acquire the necessary papers, Kamel and Zina find themselves thrown back into the same repressive system they are so urgently trying to escape. The film goes in circles; still its protagonists do not lose hope. The Algeria of the 90s, ravaged by civil war, corruption and state-sponsored oppression seems to have little in common with its portrayals in early Algerian film; if there is a common denominator, it is surely the persistence and inner strength of its characters.
About the Directors
Born in Algeria in 1966, Tariq Teguia teaches art history. He worked as a freelance photographer before turning to filmmaking; short films include ‘The Dog’ (1996) and ‘Closing’, which won a Special Jury Award in Marrakech in 2003. His features are ‘Rome Rather Than You’ (2006) and ‘Inland’ (2008), both of which screened in Venice, the latter winning the FIPRESCI Prize.
Credits
- Director
- Tariq Teguia
- Screenwriter
- Tariq Teguia
- Producer
- Yacine Teguia, Tariq Teguia, Cati Couteau, Helge Albers
- Cast
- Samira Kaddoui, Rachid Amrani, Ahmed Bennaissa, Lali Maloufi, Kader Affak, Moustapha Bekkat, Moustapha Banchaib, Khaddra Boudehane, Lounes Noucine