The Other World

Colour, 35mm
France, 2001, 95 min
Section: Maghreb

Synopsis

Yasmine is engaged to Rachid and their bond is strong and stable. Yasmine and Rachid are both the children of Algerian immigrants living in Paris. Unexpectedly and without the least explanation Rachid takes off for Algeria. Yasmine, who since then hasn’t received any word from or about Rachid, decides to find out what’s happened. She is determined to discover the truth. She thus sets out for the land of her parents and ancestors, a land about which she knows nothing. She is soon surrounded by the pervasive violence that troubles the entire country.

About the director

Merzak Allouache (b. 1944, Alger) graduated first from L’Institut National du Cinéma d’Alger and then from Paris’ IDHEC film school. Before debuting in features with Omar Gatlato he directed several shorts and worked as an assistant director. His movies have been screened at various film festivals. Filmography: Omar Gatlato (1976), Les aventures d´un heros (1977), L’homme qui regardait les fenetres (1983), Parlez apres le signal sonore (1985), Un amour a Paris (1987), Voices of Ramadhan (1991, TV doc.), Bab el oued City (1993), Jours tranquilles en Kabylie (1994, doc.), Salut cousin! (1995), Il etait une fois Donyazad (1996), Dans la decapotable (1997, short), Vie et mort des journalistes algeriens (1997, doc.), Alger/Beyrouth (1997), La solitude du manager (1998, TV), La bicyclette (1999, TV), L’autre monde (2001).