To Leave or To Stay?
Spring Grants 2023 - Development Stage
Azedine Kasri / Feature Narrative / Algeria, France, Qatar / 95 min / Original Language: French / Interests: Comedy
Synopsis
Dali, a 35-year-old Franco-Algerian pilot, faces an abrupt suspension and decides to embrace the Algerian dream by cultivating his parents’ olive fields in Kabylie. However, a colossal electrical pole obstructing the village entrance hinders progress, deemed untouchable as the “first Algerian electrical pole post-independence”. Complicating matters, Raïssa, a Tuareg black woman, claims ownership of some olive groves and desires to leave Algeria. Dali, aiming to reclaim his family’s land, finds himself at odds with her plans. Their unexpected meeting unfolds amidst bureaucratic delays in subsidies, debates on dismantling the obstructive pole, and youth movements calling for freedom.
In the midst of these challenges, a pivotal question emerges—to leave or to stay, “to bled or not to bled”? Dali and Raïssa grapple with their aspirations against a backdrop of societal and infrastructural obstacles, creating a narrative that intertwines personal quests with broader themes of identity and liberation. As they navigate this complex web, the duo’s destinies become entwined, offering a nuanced exploration of the Algerian experience and the intricate choices individuals face when confronted with tradition, ambition, and the pursuit of a better future.
Credits
- Director
- Azedine Kasri
- Producer
- Emma Javaux
- Production Company
- Une Fille Productions
About the Director
Azedine Kasri is a French-Algerian actor and filmmaker. He began his career as an actor, playing in several feature films. In 2017, he directed his first short film, ‘507 Hours’, and later attended La Fémis, where he directed ‘Territories’, his second short film, which gained international recognition. The film was selected in over 50 festivals and won more than ten prizes. In 2023, he directed ‘Boussa’, his latest short movie. Currently, he is writing his first feature film, ‘To Leave or To Stay?’, produced by Emma Javaux (Une Fille Productions).
Contacts
-
Main Contact
Azedine Kasri
- Email:
- azedine.kasri@gmail.com
-
Main Contact
Emma Javaux
- Company:
- UNE FILLE PRODUCTIONS
- Email:
- emma@unefilleproductions.com
-
Main Contact
Diane Bruderer
- Company:
- UNE FILLE PRODUCTIONS
- Email:
- diane@unefilleproductions.com