An Algerian refugee family’s prospects of Canadian citizenship are threatened by the involvement of one of the sons in a movement to defend civil liberties. The father goes in search of him and tries to understand his son’s actions.
Ahmed Kasmi and his family have fled the threat of civil war in Algeria and have been waiting months in Montreal for their Canadian citizenship. When only a few days separate them from their desired goal, Ahmed’s nineteen-year-old son Hafid goes missing. Ahmed goes in search of him and discovers that he is evidently involved in the movement to defend civil liberties. In an attempt to protect his son and the family’s chance of citizenship, he seeks out Hafid’s girlfriend Huguette. Together they visit a world which had until then remained hidden from him; he discovers the true nature of what the activists are trying to achieve and begins to understand his son’s fervour. Ahmed and Huguette eventually find Hafid at the airport with illegal immigrants who are in danger of being deported back to their country of origin.
103 min / Black & white, 35 mm
Director Denis Chouinard
/ Screenplay Denis Chouinard
/ Dir. of Photography Guy Dufaux
/ Music Bertrand Chénier
/ Editor Richard Comeau
/ Producer Roger Frappier, Luc Vandal
/ Production Max Films
/ Cast Zinedine Soualem, Hiam Abbass, Rabah A?t Ouyahia, Catherine Trudeau, Kenza Abiabdillah
Denis Chouinard has made six shorts, e.g. On ne parlait pas Allemand (1985), Les 14 définitions de la pluie (1993) and Le Verbe incendié (1998). His first feature film Clandestins (1997), made in cooperation with Nicolas Wadimoff, won awards at numerous festivals.
First-hand brews throughout the year.
Be among the first to learn about upcoming events and other news. We only send the newsletter when we have something to say.
