In Paris, Slimani, an arabian immigrant, witnesses a murder. Pursued by the assassins, he takes refuge in a mosque. Among his praying compatriots, who are dressed just like him, he manages to shake off the murderers. The next day the police are also looking for the witness. Detective Leclerc is in charge of the investigation. Mister Slimani however decides that time has come to realise his nostalgic dream. He gets ready to leave France for his homecountry, hoping to escape from murderers and policemen. His son Alilou, who is working for a local radio station, doesn't understand the sudden decision of his father. Leclerc from his side, finds out that entering the musulman-community isn't that easy for a French policeman. He asks Noria, a beautiful arabian girl to help him out and to work for him as an interpreter. But Noria disappears. France / Algeria Abrahim Bahloul has been working as a director for more than ten years now. After films as "Un thé à la menthe" and "A vampire au paradis" he directed "La nuit du destin", an intelligent detective film. More than a simple story of "man witnesses murder and becomes the new target of the murderers", "La nuit du destin" is also the story of immigrants longing for their homecountry, of a son and a father, of integration and differences. a Abdelkrim BALHOUL film SCREENPLAY: Abdelkrim BALHOUL, Pascal BONITZER CAST: Philippe VOLTER, Gamil RATIB, Sonia MANKAI, Marie-José NAT, Boris TERRAL, Producer: Djafari DJAFAR MUSIC: Jean-Claude PETIT PHOTO: Jean-Luc RIGAUT MAKE-UP: Françoise MARIE-CATHERINE COUNTRY: France / Algeria YEAR: 1997 (production) - 1998 (release, official) Running time: 95 FORMAT: 35 mm France release : 5 May 1999 PRODUCTION: Les Films Sur La Place WORLD SALES: Les Films Sur La Place DISTRIBUTION: Les Films Sur La Place To be ordered from ArtMattan Productions (www.africanfilm.com) Language: French with English subtitles FESTIVALS / PRIX / AWARDS / TELEVISIONS 1998 | All Africa Films Awards 1998 (Johannesburgh, Afrique du Sud) * Best Filmmaker * Best film 1997 | Cairo International Film Festival | CAIRO, Egypt | December 1997 * Selection 1997 | Namur International Festival of French-Speaking Film | NAMUR, Belgium | December 1997 * Selection