When it comes to surviving in today’s Algeria, no scam is too daunting for the woman who has adopted her country’s name. If they’re pretty and lacking in principles, her recruits can make a career for themselves. The latest of these, Paloma, is quite a hit, especially with Riyad, Madame Aldjeria’s son. But the purchase of Caracalla Springs, the dream that should allow Aldjeria’s clan to start a new life, proves to be one scam too many. —IMDb
Viva Laldjérie is the second film by Nadir Moknèche. His first film, the Harem of Madame Osmane, was released in cinemas in France in July 2000 and was screened at numerous international festivals. Born in 1965, he spent his childhood and teenage years in Algiers where he went to the Saint Joseph school until it was nationalised in 1976, then a public secondary school and lycée until 1984, when he passed his baccalauréat in France. After two years studying law, he left for London and started travelling. When he returned to Paris, he followed drama lessons from 1989 to 1993 at the Chaillot National Theatre and with Ariane Mnouchkine at the Thétre du Soleil. It was during this apprenticeship that he discovered the cinema, bought a super-8 camera and shot several short films. Between 1993 and 1995, he attended film lessons at the New School for Social Research in New York and made two short films, Jardin and Hanifa, the winner of the first prize at the university festival.—Filmmovement… read more
A great performance by Biyouna as Madame Aldjeria is just one of many reasons to catch up with this top notch picture from director Nadir Mokneche. A terrific script by Nadir Mokneche that captures modern Algeria in all its forms; a sexy supporting turn by Aylin Prandi as Schersaade and Nadia Kaci as Paloma are three more.Script is by no means predictable keeping the viewer engaged as it moves back and forth in time.