Their Algeria

As a young couple Aïcha and Mabrouk arrived in France from Algeria in the fifties. Their intention was always to move back to Algerie, but they were unable to return because of the Algerian War of Independence. In time, they settle in the small town of Thiers, and the family grows by one, and then two, generations.

When the couple decides to divorce after 62 years of marriage, their granddaughter, director Lina Soualem, points her camera at them to try to understand her grandparents’ decision. Additionally, she realizes that this is the time to document her family’s history, before it is too late.

The result is an intimate and warm portrayal of Aïcha og Mabrouk’s life. Soualem follows the old ex-couple in their everyday lives; they move right next to each other and continue to care for one another. Their story is one they share with many other French-Algerians, and what begins as a family portrait develops into an examination of Algerian culture and identity, the consequences of war and colonialism, and the realities of starting a new life in another country.

Atli Bjarnason

Director

Lina Soualem is a French-Palestinian-Algerian filmmaker and actress. She studied History and Political Science at La Sorbonne University in Paris. As an actress she has appeared in The Tower (Mats Grorud, 2018) and You Deserve a Lover (Hafsia Herzi, 2019), among other films. Their Algeria is her directorial debut.

This film is part of