Rent Keltoum's Daughter (2001)
3.8 of 5 from 90 ratings
1h 42min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
In the middle of a barren mountain desert a rickety red and yellow bus comes to a halt. Out steps a young woman with smooth, fine features, dark eyes and short hair. Her appearance alone makes her a curiosity: in rural Algeria most women still keep hidden beneath colourful scarves. An old hunchbacked local woman looks at her and wonders what on earth this "stranger" is doing here.Ralia, (Cylia Malki), has returned from Europe to the place of her birth in an attempt to discover why her mother abandoned her. Director Mehdi Charef reverses the trend of many recent African films which have focussed on economic migration and the exile's struggle to acclimatise to an alien culture, by having a Westernised girl return to her roots.With the help of her aunt (Baya Belal) she begins her quest to find her family, coming into conflict with the conventions of her native country where, as a woman, she is treated as a second-class citizen. - Actors:
- Cylia Malki, Baya Belal, Jean-Roger Milo, Fatima Ben Saïdane, Deborah Lamy, Brahim Ben Salah, Samira Draa, Mostefa Zerguine, Habib Zrafi, Lotfi Yahya Jedidi
- Directors:
- Mehdi Charef
- Writers:
- Mehdi Charef
- Aka:
- La Fille de Keltoum
- Studio:
- Cinefile
- Genres:
- Drama
- Countries:
- France
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Reviews (2) of Keltoum's Daughter
A Road Movie with a Difference. - Keltoum's Daughter review by CP Customer
This is such a good film. It hooks you right from the start, lures you into a false sense of security and interest, and then turns it all upside down. A great story - when Ralia sets off on her quest, catching one of the many Algerian buses which criss cross the movie, you soon realise this isn't going to be your typcial road movie. Lost origins, disorientation, alienation, motherhood - all set against the stunning and troubled background of a still closed and troubled Algerian landscape.
What makes the film, tho', is the fantastic acting and characterisation. A cast of fabulously intriguing and rich characters - so well acted. This deserves a really wide audience.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
The wilds of barren mountains and its effect on people - Keltoum's Daughter review by BN
Utterly fascinating film, supposedly set in Algeria but filmed in Tunisia, completely arid looking like a number of North African/Middle Eastern films I've seen recently.
Impressive characters. Fascinating insight into how almost destitute people live in the middle of nowhere.
Rallia descends from a rattly old bus in the middle of nowhere seeking to find her mother who she blames for abandoning her, yet she was brought up comfortably in Switzerland. Meets grandpa and wild-eyed Aunty. Can't remember aunty's name, if anyone ever said it - plus difficult to know if aunty was sane!
I won't reveal the ending as everything turns topsy turvy but certainly worth its 102 min run time.
Typically, there's a lot of staring, NAfricans seem in their own little world, fail to communicate with strangers, just rudely shout orders.
The maniacal insistence by men on women covering themselves makes my blood boil,
all it is is brainwashing through the ancient mores of their religion. Yet women travelled alone in the bus. Couldn't understand if bus was free or what, people just got on and sat down.
I also had no idea what supplies were in the sacks stolen by a family from the truck Rallia and aunty hitched a ride in - grain, rice?
Recommended. Have a go.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.