Algerian cinematic projects narrate the lives of 3 Mujahideen in the “Revolution of a Million Martyrs”

Algeria -

The heroic past is embodied in the history of Algeria with the French occupation (1830-1962), today in a local cinematic movement with a revolutionary flavor, as the country is witnessing the filming of 3 films at once, about that blood-drenched era, in a precedent that is the first of its kind in the history of Algerian cinema. , coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the independence of the "country of a million martyrs".

The cinematic works in progress narrate the biography of 3 patriotic fighters who were martyred during the Algerian liberation revolution (1954-1962) against the French occupier, with joint funding between the Ministries of Mujahideen (veterans) and Culture.

Algerian martyr Ahmed Bougherra (Algerian press)

The three films bring to mind the beginnings of the golden age of Algerian cinema, from the gate of revolutionary actions that achieved global success in the seventies of the 20th century, and entered the corridors of international film festivals, the most famous of which is “The Chronicle of Years of Embers”, which won the Palme d’Or in 1975 at the Cannes Film Festival for its director, Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina. It was the only Arab film to win this award.

As well as the movie "Zade" by the French director, of Greek origin, Costa-Gavras, and it was the only Algerian and Arab film that won the Academy Award in 1970.

Other Algerian revolutionary films whose fame transcended the borders of Algeria, including “The Battle of Algeria” and “The Wind of the Aures” (1966), “Opium and the Stick” (1969), and “Patrol to the East” (1971), which are cinematic works that documented and imitated the heroism of the people The Algerian, his sacrifices, and his suffering with the French occupation, based on historical facts and real visual effects from the battlefields that took place between the Algerian revolutionaries and the occupying soldiers, and artistically chronicled some of the crimes committed by the occupation against the defenseless people.

3 revolutionary films

The first of the new revolutionary cinematic films began filming in the Constantine Governorate (eastern Algeria) in August 2022 about the martyr Zigud Youssef (1921-1956), whose name was given to the headquarters of the National People’s Assembly (the second chamber of the Algerian parliament), and he is the commander of the second military region during The Algerian revolution and one of its most prominent leaders.

The Ministry of Mujahideen and Algerian Rights Owners assigned the film to the young director Moanes Khammar.

The film narrates the struggle of the fighter Youssef since joining the national movement in the fifties of the last century, then joining the liberation revolution and the tournaments that permeated it, until his martyrdom on September 23, 1956.

The second film takes place in the Medea Governorate (central Algeria), and its filming began last October, on the authority of the martyr Colonel Ahmed Bougherra (1928-1959), commander of the fourth state (military region during the liberation revolution), who was martyred on May 5, 1959. His direction was entrusted to Jaafar Kassem, who directed the movie “Heliopolis” (2020) and the drama series “Ashour the Tenth”, which was widely popular and controversial in Algeria (2015-2017).

As for the third film, it is about the martyr Ahmed bin Abd al-Razzaq Hammouda (1923-1959), known as Si al-Hawas, directed by Yasmine Shweikh, which is being filmed in the Mashounish area in the desert governorate of Biskra.

The film was chosen for the name "Desert Protector", and it monitors the life of the martyr and his heroics against the French occupation, which are the battles that made it difficult for the occupation army to advance to the rest of the Algerian desert regions, until the last battle he fought in "Jabal Thamer" in the Bou Saada region, where he was martyred on March 29. March 1959.

Strategic goals

And the Ministry of Mujahideen announced in October 2020 the launch of a national competition to complete and finance 3 cinematic works about martyrs in the Algerian liberation revolution, whose scenarios talk about the revolution and the paths of its heroes.

In the same year, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune instructed the Ministries of Mujahideen and Culture to "give great importance to documenting Algeria's history and everything related to national memory, and consolidating it through all available means, especially audiovisual, television and radio production."

Based on the statements of officials of the ministries that financed these revolutionary cinematic projects, 4 goals were identified for the resurrection of "revolutionary cinema", which are:

However, directors and film critics spoke to "Al-Jazeera Net" about other goals of producing 3 revolutionary films at once, and identified them in the following points:

• Marketing the championships of the Algerian revolution globally through cinematic works.

• Expose the crimes of the French occupation globally by simulating them visually.

• Reconsider historical cinematic works associated with the Algerian revolution.

Recent cinematic works have revived the debate in the artistic circles in the country about its ability to restore the glory of Algerian cinema through revolutionary films, and if it is able to raise the ceiling of expectations that it will penetrate international festivals and compete for major cinematic awards, or will it remain hostage to local cinema.

Is it an indication of the beginning of a "cinematic revolution" in Algeria from the gate of the national liberation revolution?

Cinematic glory

Director Yasmine Chouikh refuted the thesis, "The glory of Algerian cinema stopped at the seventies of the last century," and told "Al-Jazeera Net" that there is no director who does not have ambition to succeed his work, both locally and internationally, noting that this industry annually witnesses the production of important films that participate in international festivals. And win big prizes.

Shuwaikh does not agree with the views that the production of these revolutionary works at once is an indication of "the beginning of a cinematic revolution in Algeria," considering that "making revolutionary films does not mean a cinematic revolution. Algerian filmmakers have been in constant revolution for decades to prove their capabilities. We are making revolutionary cinematic films." And social, and what is important is that the image of Algeria be on the big screen. As for the cinematic revolution in the country, it will not happen unless there is full interest in cinema.

And she affirms that "the three films - which are currently being filmed - are about martyrs who fought for the liberation of the homeland, and it is a great honor for us to produce cinematic works about these historical figures."

And about the secret of awarding these revolutionary cinematic works to directors whose works have reached international festivals, Shweikh says that the success factors of the film are not only linked to the director, but also to the great artists, the nature of the revolutionary figures, and the history of the Algerian people.

Behind the scenes of a film about the Algerian martyr Ahmed Bougherra (Algerian Press)

towards a cinematic renaissance

Regarding the implications of producing these revolutionary works, Adel Makhlafia, director of the Algerian Center for Cinema, says that there is a strategy of the current Algerian political leadership aimed at advancing the film industry in the country and achieving an important leap in this regard, pointing out that Algeria's history "is in dire need of enlightenment." general opinion".

In his interview with Al-Jazeera Net, Makhlafia believes that "these works are produced with a modern look that is in line with the new Algeria policy and the official approach towards keeping pace with international cinema. The authorities are trying, through these films, to globally market the Algerian revolution and its heroes who contributed to the liberation of the country." Pointing out that there is a parallel official trend towards training (training) and the establishment of a cinema institute, and giving an opportunity for young people to keep abreast of developments in the world cinema field.

The dilemma of artistic aesthetics

Director and screenwriter Jamal Mohammadi believes that the "weak point" of some revolutionary cinematic works lies in the "absence of artistic aesthetics," adding in an interview with "Al-Jazeera Net" that "what is wrong with these films is that they are portrayed as documentaries or flat models devoid of artistic aesthetics and due poetic expressions." Employing them in such works with the aim of marketing them globally. A distinction must be made, here, between what is historical and cannot be overlooked, and the promotion of the discourse contained in this or that work, and this is what is lacking in revolutionary films despite their scarcity.