Mahfoud is a young teacher at a technical high school in Algiers. A computer enthusiast, he has renovated an old weaving loom that he would like to patent and exhibit at an international inventors' fair. Closely watched by old M'nouar, one of his neighbors, he runs up against the worst red tape and soon finds himself under suspicion. He makes matters worse when he falls in love with Samia, a young Algerian psychiatrist who has returned home after studying in Belgium. Struggling against all conformism and taboos, the young woman is herself closely watched.
A Saga Film (Belgium), Flash-Media, RTBF (Belgian television), ENTV (Algerian television) coproduction. Developed in collaboration with RTBF and with the help of the Centre du Cinéma et de l'Audiovisuel de la Communauté française de Belgique and Walloon distributors. With the support of the Algerian Ministry of Culture and Communication, the Centre du Cinéma et de l'Audiovisuel de la Communauté française de Belgique and Walloon distributors, the DGCD, Direction Générale de la Coopération au Développement, and the Algerian Commissariat for the "Year of Algeria in France". With the participation of the Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie, TV5, with the support of the Loterie Nationale and the Office National des Droits d'Auteur - Onda.
Directed by Kamal Dehane
Cast: Nadia Kaci, Sid Ali Kouiret, Kamel Rouini, Mohamed Adjaïmi, Amid Chakir, Larbi Zekkal, Bahia Rachedi, Ahmed Ben Aissa, Othmane Bendaoud, Manel Touati, Sid Ali Kouiret
Screenplay: Kamal Dehane, based on the novel "Les Vigiles" by Tahar Djaout (éditions du Seuil)
Music: Réda Doumaz
Co-producer(s) : Aziz Tibouche, Kamel Riabi
Production manager(s) : Tahar Harhoura, Amine Tibouche
Executive producer(s) : Hubert Toint
Line producer(s) : Hubert Toint
Director of photography: Michel Baudour
1 AD: Norbert Dammann
Costumes: Fatiha Benslimane
Make-up: Rachida Messaad
Hairstyling: Faïza Belatreche
Live sound: Alain Sironval
VFX: Pierre Wuidart
Image editing: Marie-Hélene Dozo
Sound editing: Nathalie Delevoye
Sound mixing: Marina Lerchs
Calibration: Roger Vervoenen
24th Amiens International Film Festival, 2004: Prix d'Amiens Métropole and Best Actor Award for Sid Ali Kouiret
Fespaco, 2005: Best Actor Award for Sid Ali Kouiret
Festival Internacional de Cine Arabe Amal 05, Santiago de Compostela, 2005: Best Actress Award for Nadia Kaci
Rabat Festival, 2005: Hassan II Prize
Annaba Amazigh Film Festival, Algeria, 2004
Valencia Film Festival, 2004
Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur, 2004
26th Montpellier International Mediterranean Film Festival, 2004
Carthage Film Days Panorama Section, 2004
21st Sainte Livrade Film Festival - cinéma d'ici et d'ailleurs, 2004
Med Film Festival Rome, 2004
28th Cairo International Film Festival, 2004
Festival Cinéma Méditéranéen, Brussels, 2004
Cinema Novo Film Festival, Bruges, 2005
Festival Mahgreb, si loin, si proche, Saint Paul de Fenouillet, 2005
Festival Cinéma d'Alès, Itinérances, 2005
Vues d'Afrique, 21st Days of African and Creole Cinema, Montreal, 2005
Festival de Paris / Ile de France, 2005
Festival Cinémas d'Afrique, Angers, 2005
Screens of New Arab Cinema, Marseilles, 2005
Oujda International Maghreb Film Festival, 2005
Famek Arab Film Festival, 2005
CinemaEast Film Festival, New York, 2005
Festival Lumières d'Afrique, Besançon, 2005
Cinemania Film Festival, Montreal, 2005
Vienna Francophone Film Festival, 2006
Coordination des Franco-Berbères du Bassin de Longwy, 2006
