Harkis (2022) Rendezvous WIth French Cinema 2023

 

Harkis is the name of the locals who worked for the French in Algeria. They are part of the fighting force and they have joined up hoping that they will get the same rights as the French themselves.  They want to go to France for a better life.  As the  occupation is winding down it looks like there may be a snag.

In an age where countries like America are going into countries to keep the peace or fight a war, like Afghanistan or Iraq, the question of wat happens to those who help the occupying country is a tricky one. What are we to do for those who put their lives on the line for us.  The answer is we should take care of them but that isn’t always the case.

Harkis is the story of what happens from the guys in the trenches. It’s the story of the guys on the razor’s edge. They know there is a danger and a problem.  There is a scene where one soldier is talking to his father who hates the French but loves his son and despite wanting the French out he wants the possibility of a better life for his son that working for the French represents. It’s a small scene that echoes down the rest of the film.

I was moved.

This is a really good film that raises a lot of questions about how we treat the the countries we go into and what happens when we leave.

A must see at Rendezvous With French Cinema

Faithful (2020) Rendez-Vous With French Film

This is the story of  Algerian dissident Fernand Iveton and his wife who struggles to keep him out of trouble as he fights the French forces in 1950s Algeria.

Well made and earnest historical drama and romance has  some killer performances  by leads Vicky Krieps and Vincent Lacoste that suck you in. Told in a alternating time shifts between Iveton's arrest back to beginning of the relationship the film really lets us know who these people were.

Unfortunately as good as the film is, there is perhaps a bit too much polish on it all. There is a fine sheen to it all and on some level it neve fully feels real but a historical romance with a tragic outcome. Don't get me wrong I really liked the film but I wanted to love it. Though to be honest I don't know if the lack of love for the film is due to the film itself or that in the last few weeks I've seen three other films of various types on the Algerian War.

My lack of made passion for the film aside, it is definitely worth a look especially if you like historical romances

Available March 6 at noon ET to March 11 at noon ET at Rendez-Vous With French Cinema

Of Sheep and Men (2017) Toronto 2017

Destined for a long art hose run director Karim Sayad's OF SHEEP AND MEN will is a rambling slice of life that will thrill those ir clicks with and bore those it doesn't.

The film follows two men. The first is 16 year old Habib who is secretly training the ram his father bought to take part in contests with other rams. He knows that his father is planning on slaughtering the animal for the up coming holiday, however he wants to try and make him a champion before that.
The second is Samir who is looking to buy rams cheap to make a killing with the approaching Eid holiday.

Shot in such away that I wasn't sre if this was a documentary or fiction film OF SHEEP AND MEN sucks you in and carries you along. How connected you are to the film is going to depend on how you relate to the films shot from the hip style. Sayad  is clearly following events as it transpire which at times makes for some off looking shots and some long rambling passages as the single camera simply records what is happening without cutting away. Some of it works and some of it doesn't. The result is some it thrills and some of it doesn't.

I know that how the film was shot and put together is going to not work for some audiences who will find it too slow even at 75 minutes.

For those who like their looks at life raw and uncensored  this is a must. For all others proceed with caution.