Algeria: « Al Wahrani » movie triggers controversy within Council of the Nation

A Senator belonging to the third presidential block in the Council of the Nation or upper house of parliament, Zahra Kerrab, took the opportunity of a debate Tuesday on the 2015 finance bill to hit out against the release of the epic historical movie called “Al Wahrani” which is now displayed in Algerian movie halls in various parts of the country.

The disgruntled Senator considered this movie as offensive to the region of Oran in western Algeria as well as to the Algerian Mujahidine or war veterans themselves who valiantly fought for Algeria’s freedom and independence.

She argued that this film contained serious lapses and heavy distortions of historical facts and events with regard to the national liberation war waged against the then French colonial yoke.

In a reaction, the Culture Minister, Nadia Labidi, however underscored that this movie was generally on the level as it didn’t offend national identity or the freedom fighters, adding it’s up to the viewing public to deliver its final verdict on the value of this cinematic work.

The feature film “El-Wahrani” directed by Algerian filmmaker Lyes Salem competed recently in the 8th Film Festival in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), scheduled from 23 October to 1 November 2014.

Produced in 2014, this second feature directed by Lyes Salem was selected among 19 films from Europe, Asia and Africa in the category “Afaq Jadida” (New Horizons), dedicated to the “first or second film of a filmmaker “characterized by “cool” style and “original” ideas, according to festival’s organizers.

This historical epic of 120mn describes the journey of two friends, Jaâfar (Lyes Salem) and Hamid (Khaled Benaissa), comrades who meet at the end of the National liberation war to build, each in his own way, independent and free Algeria.

Co-produced by private companies “Leith Media”, “Dharamsala” and the Algerian Agency for Cultural radiance (AARC) with the backing of the culture ministry, the film allowed Lyes Salem to win “Valois gold” price as Best Actor at the Festival of francophone Film of Angoulême (France) in August 2014.