Chronique des années de braise (1975)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina

Writers:

Rachid Boudjedra (writer)
Tewfik Fares (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

26 November 1975 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The beginings of the Algerian Revolution as seen through the eyes of a peasant.

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Yorgo Voyagis	...	Ahmed
Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina	...	Le conteur fou
Leila Shenna	...	La femme
Cheikh Nourredine	...	L'ami
François Maistre	...	Le contremaître de la carrière
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Henry Czarniak
Hassan El Amir
Brahim Hadjadj
Hassan Hassani
Mohammed Kouiret
Sid Ali Kouiret
Abdelhalim Rais
Jacques Richard
Sissani
Nadia Talbi
Larbi Zekkal

Directed by
Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Rachid Boudjedra		writer
Tewfik Fares		writer
Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina		writer

Cinematography by
Marcello Gatti

Production Companies

• O.N.C.I.C.

Distributors

• Arab Film Distribution (1997) (worldwide) (all media)

Also Known As:

Ahdat sanawovach el-djamr (Algeria: Arabic title)
Chronicle of the Burning Years (International: English title) (literal title)
Chronicle of the Years of Embers
Chronicle of the Years of Fire (International: English title)

Runtime:

177 min

Country:

Algeria

Language:

Arabic

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:15

Company:

O.N.C.I.C.

Algerian Independence epic.

This massive historical piece gives the impression of being the launch of the great French Arab movie tradition but people closer to the source might know better.

There are stories of harsh conditions on the production but the result is imposing and spectacular.

We follow the life of one Algerian who sees history overtake him and becomes involved in the independence movement. Not the least intriguing scene is the one where his neighbors have a secret WW2 radio receiver but prove to be listening not to Winston Churchill but to Adolf Hitler because they know he is against the French. The progressive element are shown as considering the whole European war as a digression.

Most powerful scene shows the succession of events concerning the construction of a dam which dries up the community's water. All this is the stuff of culture shock.

The technical work is assured. Cameraman Gatti worked regularly with Pontecorvo, making him a natural choice for this one but he also did popular films, notably several by Sergio Corbucci.

In a better ordered world, this would be more familiar than BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN and THE CRUEL SEA but we don't live in that world.