Friday, February 5 at 6:00pm and 9:15pm | Free |
Directed by Merzak Allouache
Algeria, France, 2013 , 91 min.
Opening Night with Film Director Merzak Allouache
With live pre-film music by local Algerian musician Moh Alileche
Sponsored by Cascade Associated Students of PCC
It is a great honor to welcome Merzak Allouache, Algeria’s foremost film director, to Portland to present his film, THE ROOFTOPS, on Opening Night at the 26th Cascade Festival of African Films. Taking place over a single day, paced by the five daily calls to prayer, the film tells five independent stories that intermingle and clash and are set on the rooftop terraces of five historic neighborhoods in Algiers, the capital city. Within this structure, Mr. Allouache presents a microcosm of Algerian society and casts a critical eye on important social issues such as class and gender inequality, poverty, corruption and the rise of religious fundamentalism. Whenever it’s needed, Mr. Allouache artfully uses humor to lighten his serious subject matter. Two of Mr. Allouache’s earlier films, the now-classic Bab el-Oued City andThe Other World, showed at CFAF in 2000 and 2006, respectively.
In Arabic and French with English subtitles.
Not suitable for children.