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This July, in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Algerian Independence from France, Arab Film Series presents Bloody Beans, an experimental take on the Algerian War by Narimane Mari.

 

This program is accompanied by a recorded discussion with the filmmaker.

Synopsis:

Shot on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Algerian independence, (the film) is based on a loose, improvisational script about a group of children who, fed up with their monotonous diet of beans, decide to steal food from the French military barracks and end up capturing a young French soldier as well. This allegory of the Algerian War of Independence is enacted on the beach and within the populous neighborhoods of today’s Algiers, where almost half the population is under twenty-five years of age and largely unemployed. In a powerful mix of past (the struggle against French occupation) and present (the struggle of young people to survive), the film addresses the emotional realities of colonialism and contemporary forms of disenfranchisement., which sees the conflict played out by a group of vibrant children. Incorporating unique lighting and sound, the film is a complex exploration of colonial powers and the fight for freedom.—Hila Peleg (documenta14)



About the filmmaker:


Narimane Mari supports the projects of filmmakers and artists whose imagination and vision of the world seek to express the sur-reality of contemporary history. In parallel, she realizes her own films, exploring forms of narratives and spaces of perceptions. Her films Prologue, Bloody Beans, and Holy Days have received numerous awards at FID, Toronto International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, and have been shown at museums such as Louisiana , Centre Pompidou, Reina Sofia, and MoMA. Le Fort des Fous premiered at Documenta 14 and Locarno Film Festival. Her last film poem On A Eu La Journée Bonsoir premiered at FID in 2022, receiving the Grand Prix for the French Competition and National Center for Plastic Arts Prize.

 

  • Year
    2013
  • Runtime
    77 minutes
  • Language
    Algerian, French
  • Country
    Algeria, France
  • Premiere
    FID Marseille
  • Director
    Narimane Mari
  • Screenwriter
    Narimane Mari
  • Producer
    Narimane Mari, Michel Haas, Olivier Boischot
  • Executive Producer
    Narimane Mari
  • Cinematographer
    Nasser Medjkane
  • Editor
    Narimane Mari, Caroline Detournay, Anita Roth
  • Sound Design
    Benjamin Laurent La chambre rouge
  • Music
    Zombie Zombie, Cosmic Neman, Etienne Jaumet