Chronicle of the Years of Ember (Arabic: وقائع سنين الجمر, Waqâ'i' sinîn al-jamr) is a 1975 Algerian film directed by Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina. It won the Palme d'Or at the 28th Cannes Film Festival. It is the only Algerian film to receive this award. Synopsis

The film is composed of six chapters:

1. The Years of Ashes
2. The Years of Embers
3. The Years of Fire
4. The Year of the Cart
5. The Year of the Charge
5. November 1, 1954

The film's story begins in 1939 and ends on November 11, 1954. Through historical references, it demonstrates that November 1, 1954 (the outbreak of the Algerian War) was not an accident of history, but the culmination of a long process of suffering and struggle, first political and then military, undertaken by the Algerian people against the fait accompli of French colonization, which began with the landing at Sidi-Ferruch on June 14, 1830.

Chronicle

Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina, 82, was born in M'sila, originally destined for a career in agriculture, graduated from the universities of Guelma and Antibes. As fate would have it, he accidentally found himself immersed in these fields, much to our delight.

With his gifted storytelling skills, "Meddah," he became deeply interested in cinema, to the point that he began studying at the Prague Film School (FAMU), then worked at the Barrandov Studios, where he specialized in cinematography.

In 1967, Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina released his very first feature film, after the documentary "Mais Un Jour de Novembre," which was titled "Le Vent Des Aurès," and earned him the Best First Film Award.

Nine years later, he returned to Cannes, where he competed with "Chronicle of the Years of Ember." This film, which became a cult classic both technically and artistically, as it was filmed in color, panoramic format, and in stereophonic sound, was also marked by the heated debates it sparked. The wounds of the war were far from healed, and members feared reprisals.

Despite the threats and controversies, it was indeed awarded the Palme d'Or. The jury, assembled at the time, unanimously praised the work done in this film, as well as the artistic approach, which illustrated, as best it could, the Algerian rage and revolt. "With this film, I wanted to explain for the first time how the Algerian War came about. This revolt, which became the Algerian revolution, was not only against the colonizer, but also against the human condition." says Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina, adding, "This film is only a personal vision, even if it is based on specific facts."

(Eddardarek.com)


Technical Details

French Title: Chronicle of the Years of Embers
Original Title: وقائع سنين الجمر / Waqa'i' sinine ed-djamr
Director: Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina
Assistant Director: Abderrahmane Bouguermouh
Screenplay and Dialogue: Tewfik Farès, Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina, and Rachid Boudjedra
Dialogue: Tewfik Farès
Photography: Marcello Gatti
Editing: Mario Serandrei
Music: Philippe Arthuys
Production: Ruggero Deodato
Country of Origin: Algeria
Format: Color - 2.35:1 - Mono - 35 mm
Language: A - French
Awards: Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival 1975
Genre: Drama, War, and History
Length: 177 minutes
Release Date: 1975

Cast

Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina: The Mad Storyteller
Yorgo Voyagis: Ahmed
Cheikh Noureddine: The Friend
François Maistre: The Quarry Foreman
Henry Czarniak
Hassan El Amir
Brahim Haggiag
Hassan El-Hassani
Leila Shenna
Yahia Benmabrouk
Hadj Smaine
Sid Ali Kouiret
Larbi Zekkal
Jacques David

About the Film

This film was shot in the town of Laghouat, an oasis located in southern Algeria, in the town of Sour El Ghozlane (formerly Aumale), 100 km south of Algiers, as well as in the market square in Ghardaïa. During his screening at the Cannes Film Festival, Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina received death threats from former members of the OAS who were nostalgic for French Algeria. Michel Poniatowski, Minister of the Interior at the time, sent a security brigade to protect Lakhdar-Hamina and her three children who were present at the festival. Several bomb threats were triggered during the 1975 Cannes Film Festival.

Awards

Palme d'Or at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival
http://www.festival-cannes.com/fr/films/chronique-des-annees-de-braise