With 2019’s Papicha, director Munia Meddour made a powerful and moving first feature film about the Black Decade in Algeria from the perspective of a young woman. The drama wins a César for its first film and showcases talent, Lina Khudri, who is crowned César for Best Hope.
Almost four years have passed and the filmmaker is reuniting with his beloved actor on Hurriya – Freedom in Arabic. Lina Khudri portrays a heroine passionate about dancing, who has to rebuild herself physically and mentally after a violent attack. This rebirth comes with the help of a group of women who also excel in life.
“It was only natural to continue working on this Algerian collective memory. It was not prepared, calculatedMunya Medduri explains. If Papicha told the story of the 1990s in Algeria, this soulful set focuses on today’s youth. “This movie is us, but it’s also the story of my life– says Amira Hilda Douauda, who plays Sonia.
Like his character, the actor left his native country in hopes of finding a better life in France. “If some leave, it is not because they do not like Algeria, on the contraryhe continues. They simply have no choice.” If Houria celebrates the pursuit of life, evil lurks throughout the film, especially through the figure of the aggressor, Ali, a repentant terrorist.
We cover our traumas with successive layers, and history makes us pay for it.
The director tackles this taboo subject. Since 2000, former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika pardoned thousands of prisoners. These people are liberated and share the same space as their victims. “This policy was implemented destructively for the people– says Nadia Kach. No reconciliation is possible unless we go through a trial or judgment. We cover our traumas with successive layers, and history makes us pay for it.”
To overcome this danger, there is art and especially dance. It is through him that the heroes of the film will recover and regain their freedom. “Huria will have to overcome his handicap to gain strengthMunya Medduri explains. She emancipates herself through signature choreography that is almost coded. It is a way to communicate with each other..”
Choreographed by Hajiba Fahmi, the dance scenes were particularly difficult for the filmmaker: “Filming dance is a special approach, because the dance performance is instantaneous, to film it is to take away a part of yourself..” The development of these dances was long. After the attack, Huria, who is mute, speaks in sign language. This new language was introduced in the following movements.
“The work was phenomenal, because after reading the script, we consulted neurologists to understand what was happening in the brain of a person who stopped talking after a shock.– says Munya Medduri. The experts then translated the signed passages, which were given to the choreographer.”
Houria does not yet have a release date in Algeria. “I think Munya will do anything to get him out of thereNadia Kach hopes. It would be a shame if it doesn’t come out, unfortunately there are a lot of movies coming out. People deserve pictures of themselves, many pictures, because Algeria is numerous. It is also a work of self-reconstruction.”
Interview by Thomas Desroches, Angoulême, August 2022.
Huria, in theaters on March 15, 2023.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
