The Joyful 1926
Fall Grants 2024 - Production Stage
Damien Ounouri, Adila Bendimerad / Feature Narrative / Algeria, France, Qatar / 120 min / Original Language: Arabic, French / Interests: Drama, History
Synopsis
Algiers, 1926. The French police arrest Muslim ‘indigenous’ actress Ghazala for pretending to be European to land the role of Andromaque at the Algiers Opera. From then on, she does not cease to run… While being pursued by colonial justice, Ghazala fights for her daughter’s education and against the ghosts of a tragic and painful past. She crosses paths with iconic figures of her time, including members of the ‘Zahia Troupe’ (the ‘Joyful Troupe’), founders of popular Algerian theatre, which she joins to become the first Algerian actress in history. Her wild journey leads her to mourn and free herself as an artist, as a woman, and as an Algerian in a colonial empire governed by the indigenous code. Between past and present, the contours of a politically and culturally vibrant Algeria emerge with Ghazala’s emancipation…soon revolutionary.
Credits
- Director
- Damien Ounouri, Adila Bendimerad
- Screenwriter
- Damien Ounouri, Yanis Koussim
- Producer
- Yacine Laloui
- Production Company
- Lunja Production
About the Director
Based in Algiers, Damien Ounouri is an Algerian director born in France. He studied film theory, developing his practice as a self-taught filmmaker. His documentary ‘Fidai’ (2012), co-produced by Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke, had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. His medium-length fiction film ‘Kindil El Bahr’ (2016) premiered at the Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival. His first feature-length fiction film, ‘The Last Queen’ (2022), co-directed with Adila Bendimerad, premiered at the Venice Film Festival (Giornate Degli Autori), was released in theatres in several countries and became available on platforms such as Netflix MENA and HBO. Damien Ounouri and Adila Bendimerad are collaborating as co-directors once again on ‘The Joyful 1926’.
Adila Bendimerad is an Algerian actress, scriptwriter, director and producer, based in Algiers. In 2011, the actress (‘The Repentant’, ‘The Rooftops’, ‘Normal’ by Merzak Allouache, ‘Still Burning’ by Georges Hachem) created the company Taj Intaj in Algiers to promote young Algerian talent. Her production of ‘The Days Before’ (2013) by Karim Moussaoui received worldwide acclaim, from Locarno Festival to her nomination for a César. ‘Kindil El Bahr’ (2016) by Damien Ounouri was selected for Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. In co-production with Agat Films / Ex Nihilo (France), she produced ‘The Last Queen’, which she co-wrote and co-directed with Ounouri and in which she also takes on the lead role as Queen Zaphira.