1998
France
105min - 35mm - 1.85 - Color - Political drama
Original language : French & Arabic
Cast
Roschdy Zem
Fadila Belkebla
Omar Bekhaled
Credits
Director: Bourlem Guerdjou
Screenplay : Olivier Lorelle & Bourlem Guerdjou
Image: Georges Lechaptois
Editing: Sandrine Deegen
Music: Hakim Guerdjou
Production companies: Exposed Film, 3B Productions, ARTE France Cinéma
Festivals & Awards
Venice Film Festival 1998 - Best First Film
Living in paradise
Vivre au paradis
a film by :Bourlem Guerdjou
1961-1962, the Algerian War is under way. Lakhdar, an immigrant construction worker, lives in the Nanterre shantytown. He can no longer bear living alone without his wife and children whom he has left Southern Algeria. Once he succeeds in bringing his family to France, he starts looking for an apartment to give them a decent life. In the meantime, he tries as best he can to keep their heads above the mud and the hunger-line. Just as he is about to reach his goal, at the cost of a betrayal, History strikes back at him through the unexpected political commitment of his wife, Nora…
1961-1962, la guerre d'Algérie bat son plein. Lakhdar, immigré, ouvrier du bâtiment, habite le bidonville de Nanterre. Il ne supporte plus de vivre seul, de perdre les visages de sa femme, de ses enfants, restés dans le sud algérien. Ayant réussi à faire venir les siens, il se met en quête d'un appartement pour leur offrir une vie décente. En attendant, il tente comme il peut de les maintenir au-dessus de la boue et de la misère. Quand il croit toucher au but, au prix de la trahison, la grande Histoire le percute par le biais de l'engagement militant de sa femme Nora, dont il ignorait tout.
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