Cri de pierre

Led by Daoudi, a disillusioned architect, a group of Constantinois return to their village in the heart of Algeria. There, they rediscover traditions, wounds from the past and a young boy who passes on words of wisdom inherited from his deceased grandfather; the confrontation between modernity and local memory permeates the film.^[2]

• Directed: Abderrahmane Bouguermouh^[1]
• Written: Abderrahmane Bouguermouh^[3]
• Music: Malek Imache^[4]
• Format: 35 mm^[5]
• Running time: 98 minutes^[6]
• Country: Algeria
• Released: 1986^[7]

• Hadj Smaine: Daoudi^[1]
• Keltoum (Aïcha Adjouri)^[8]
• Anouar H. Smaine: Young man
• Taha El Amiri^[9]
• Aziz Degga
• Himoud Brahimi^[9]

The film was directed by Abderrahmane Bouguermouh and shot in 35 mm format. It was made during a period of renewal in Algerian cinema in the 1980s, when several works explored themes such as urban life, migration and the break with the rural world. Despite receiving international critical acclaim, the film was ‘forgotten’ locally and saw little distribution in Algeria after its release; it enjoyed greater visibility abroad and at festivals.^[10]

Filming took place mainly in the Constantine region and in settings representing ‘deep Algeria’, which explains the presence of actors from the region and the emphasis on local landscapes.^[11]

The film has been screened internationally and cited in magazines and catalogues; it is referenced in festival and film library databases. Contemporary reviews highlight the social tone and reflective distance of the narrative (return to roots, clash between modernity and tradition).^{[12][13] [14]}