Tar Angel

Colour, 35mm
Canada, 2001, 103 min
Section: Maghreb

Synopsis

Ahmed Kasmi and his family have fled the threat of civil war in Algeria and have been waiting months in Montreal for their Canadian citizenship. When only a few days separate them from their desired goal, Ahmed’s nineteen-year-old son Hafid goes missing. Ahmed goes in search of him and discovers that he is evidently involved in the movement to defend civil liberties. In an attempt to protect his son and the family’s chance of citizenship, he seeks out Hafid’s girlfriend Huguette. Together they visit a world which had until then remained hidden from him; he discovers the true nature of what the activists are trying to achieve and begins to understand his son’s fervour. Ahmed and Huguette eventually find Hafid at the airport with illegal immigrants who are in danger of being deported back to their country of origin.

About the director

Denis Chouinard has made six shorts, e.g. On ne parlait pas Allemand (1985), Les 14 définitions de la pluie (1993) and Le Verbe incendié (1998). His first feature film Clandestins (1997), made in cooperation with Nicolas Wadimoff, won awards at numerous festivals.