In the Algerian desert in her relay, for a cigarette, a coffee or eggs, a woman welcomes truckers, vagabonds and dreams... Her name is Malika.

A film by Hassen FERHANI

Algeria, France, Qatar · 2019, Documentary · DCP · Color · 103' · o.v. Algerian Arabic/French/English

starring Malika, Chawki Amari, Samir Elhakim, the truckers of the National 1

Tags: Portrait, Documentary, Life Experiences

NOTE BY THE PROGRAMMER
Previously, a slaughterhouse opened up the heart of Algiers to the world (Roundabout in My Head, 2015). Now, the manager of a small shop in the Sahara offers a place of peace − though maybe not an oasis, what with the sand wiping out even the colors in this documentary Western. A closed off chamber, an observation spot or a theater stage: such is the versatility of a filmmaking device that Ferhani - and therein lies his talent − never seems to be satisfied with, always being ready to embrace the unexpected.
Antoine Thirion (Locarno 2019)

NOTE BY THE PROGRAMMER
Hassen Ferhani's quiet documentary about an off-the-grid café in the Sahara Desert is an intimate portrait of its proprietor and her guests - as well as the landscape, and Algeria.

The Sahara covers over four-fifths of Algeria. Somewhere in this vast expanse of desert, Malika lives alone, running her café with one table and a menu that offers an omelette and tea. Dwarfed by the sands that stretch out to the horizon and beset by harsh winds, Malika's outpost seems oddly placed, and decidedly lonely. Yet, as Hassen Ferhani's quiet, vérité documentary unfolds, it becomes clear that this locale is hardly thirsting for life.

Malika's off-the-grid spot is a welcome rest stop for a variety of travellers, who come not just for the food but to share their stories. (Another fixture of the café is Mimi, Malika's beloved cat.) Religion, the economy, politics, family - Malika listens, interjects, and absorbs. And when her guests inevitably leave, there's a sense that the café has expanded to hold their memories. But Malika's kingdom - she is the ruler of what might be reductively dubbed a "no-man's land" - isn't immune to the march of socalled progress: a petrol station is to be built next door.

Ferhani films the space of the café with patient pacing that adapts to Malika's world, and with such intimacy as to evoke a sense of sitting next to the matriarch herself. The effect is that through Malika's exchanges, a portrait emerges of a woman, a landscape, and even a country.

KIVA REARDON (TIFF 2019, Toronto)
www.tiff.net/events/143-sahara-street

Producers
Narimane Mari, Olivier Boischot

Director
Hassen Ferhani

Screenplay
Hassen Ferhani

Cinematography
Hassen Ferhani

Sound
Mohamed Ilyas Guetal

Sound Designer
Antoine Morin

Editing
Hassen Ferhani, Nina Khada, Stéphanie Sicard, Nadia Ben Rachid


CAST
Malika, Chawki Amari, Samir Elhakim, the truckers of the National 1

International Sales Agent
Pascale Ramonda

Production Companies
* Centrale Electrique,
* Allers Retours Films

CONTACT
Allers Retours Films / allersretoursfilms(@)gmail.com
International Sales Agent / pascale(@)pascaleramonda.com

2019 | TIFF, Toronto, Canada
* NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
*Selection : Wavelengths
* Winner:
* Showtimes: Thu, Sep 05 / Scotiabank Theatre / Press & Industry / Subtitled / 8:00 PM
* Showtimes: Sun, Sep 08 / TIFF Bell Lightbox / Subtitled / 3:45 PM
* Showtimes: Mon, Sep 09 / Scotiabank Theatre / Subtitled / 4:15 PM
* Showtimes: Sat, Sep 14 / Jackman Hall (AGO) / Subtitled / 6:15 PM
www.tiff.net/events/143-sahara-street

2019 | El Gouna International Film Festival, Egypt
* AFRICAN PREMIERE
* Feature Documentary Competition
* Nominee: Golden Star (Hassen Ferhani)

2019 | Locarno International Film Festival, Switzerland
* World Premiere (Première Mondiale)
* Selection: Concorso Cineasti del presente
Documentary Duration (at Locarno) : 100 minutes
* Winner: Best Emerging Director (Premio per il miglior regista emergente - Città e Regione di Locarno)
* Nominee: Golden Leopard - Filmmakers of the Present (Hassen Ferhani)
* Screenings: Saturday 10 | 8 | 2019 · 18:30 · PalaCinema Sala 1 · Sub. English,French
* Screenings: Sunday 11 | 8 | 2019 · 14:00 · L'altra Sala · Sub. English,French
* Screenings: Monday 12 | 8 | 2019 · 21:00 · PalaCinema Sala 2 · Sub. English
* Screenings: Wednesday 14 | 8 | 2019 · 14:00 · Cinema Rialto 1 · Sub. English
* Screenings: Sunday 18 | 8 | 2019 · 16:00 · Teatro Kursaal · Sub. English,French
www.locarnofestival.ch/pardo/program/archive/2019/film.html?fid=1083607&eid=72

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IT

Nella sua locanda nel deserto algerino, per una sigaretta o un caffè, una donna accoglie camionisti, vagabondi e sogni… Il suo nome è Malika.

Algeria, Francia, Qatar · 2019 · DCP · Colore · 100' · v.o. algerino/francese/inglese

Regista
Hassen Ferhani

Produttore
Narimane Mari, Olivier Boischot

Cast
Malika, Chawki Amari, Samir Elhakim, the truckers of the National 1

Fotografia
Hassen Ferhani

Sceneggiatura
Hassen Ferhani

Suono
Mohamed Ilyas Guetal

Sound Designer
Antoine Morin

Montaggio
Stéphanie Sicard, Nadia Ben Rachid, Nina Khada, Hassen Ferhani

Produzione
Allers Retours Films / allersretoursfilms@gmail.com
Centrale Électrique / pascale@pascaleramonda.com

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DE

In ihrer Pension in der algerischen Wüste, empfängt eine Frau für eine Zigarette oder einen Kaffee Lastwagenfahrer, Vagabunden, Träume… Ihr Name ist Malika.

Algerien, Frankreich, Qatar · 2019 · DCP · Color · 100' · o.v. Algerian Arabic/French/English

Regisseur
Hassen Ferhani

Cast
Malika, Chawki Amari, Samir Elhakim, the truckers of the National 1

Produzent
Narimane Mari, Olivier Boischot

Kamera
Hassen Ferhani

Drehbuch
Hassen Ferhani

Ton
Mohamed Ilyas Guetal

Sound Designer
Antoine Morin

Montage
Stéphanie Sicard, Nadia Ben Rachid, Nina Khada, Hassen Ferhani

Produktion
Allers Retours Films / allersretoursfilms@gmail.com
Centrale Électrique / pascale@pascaleramonda.com