The Blessed (2017 film)

The Blessed, also known as Les Bienheureux, is an Algerian movie that shows a family living in the aftermath of the Algerian Civil War also known as 'the dirty war'.

Synopsis

Set in 24 hours, the movie centers on a couple who happens to be celebrating their twentieth anniversary and plans a date in a restaurant. The couple gets into a disagreement concerning whether or not to send their son abroad for schooling and they decide to ask their friends about it during the night out. During the dinner, the topic is brought up and it ends up with each of them opining their perspectives concerning the war and country's future.

Cast

Sami Bouajila
Nadia Kaci
Adam Bessa
Amine Lansari
Lyna Khoudri
Faouzi Bensaïdi
Hadjar Benmansour
Salima Abada
Abdelkader Affak
Mohamed Ali Allalou

Awards and nominations

*Göteborg Film Festival
International Debut Award
Sofia Djama
*AMAA 2018 Award
Best Young/Promising Actor
Anine Lansari
*Hamburg Film Festival
Political Film Award
Sofia Djama
*Lumière Awards, France
Heike Hurst Award
Best First Film (Meilleur premier film)
Sofia Djama
*Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival
Emerging Filmmaker Award
Sofia Djama
*Seattle International Film Festival
New Directors Competition
Sofia Djama
*Venice Film Festival
Brian Award
Sofia Djama
Lina Mangiacapre Award
Sofia Djama
Venice Horizons Award
Best Actress
Lyna Khoudri
Venice Horizons Award
Best Film
Sofia Djama