Merzak Allouache facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Merzak Allouache
Allouache in 2017
Born	(1940-10-06) 6 October 1940 (age 84) Algiers, Algeria
Occupation	Film director
Years active	1972-present
Notable work	Omar Gatlato

Merzak Allouache was born on October 6, 1940. He is a famous film director and screenwriter from Algeria. His movie Omar Gatlato (made in 1976) won a Silver Prize at the 10th Moscow International Film Festival. Another film, Salut cousin! (from 1996), was considered for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Many people think Merzak Allouache is one of the most important Algerian filmmakers. He is special because most of his films are about his home country, Algeria.

Early Life and Education

Merzak Allouache grew up in a neighborhood called Bab el-Oued in Algiers. His father worked for the post office, and his mother was a housewife. He was just ten years old when the Algerian Liberation War started in 1954. Algeria became independent in 1962, when he was eighteen.

Studying Film

In 1964, Merzak Allouache began studying at the Institute for Cinema in Algiers. While there, he made his graduation film, Croisement, and a short film called Le Voleur. When the institute closed, he moved to Paris to finish his studies at l’IDHEC.

Career in Film

Early Work and Return to Algeria

After finishing his studies, Allouache worked at the Algerian News Office for a short time. He later went to France for an internship. He stayed in France for several years, studying film analysis.

He came back to Algeria in 1973. He helped organize special film campaigns to support the country's farming changes. He also worked as an advisor for the Ministry of Culture. In 1972, he directed a documentary about this work called Nous et la révolution agraire (Us and the Agrarian Revolution).

Gaining International Recognition

Merzak Allouache became well-known around the world with his first major film, Omar Gatlato (1976). This movie showed a realistic view of life for men in Algerian society. It was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and won a Silver Medal at the Moscow International Film Festival.

He then directed Les Aventures d'un héros in 1978, which won an award at the Carthage Film Festival. In 1982, he directed L'Homme qui regardait les fenêtres.

Films in France and Algeria

Allouache returned to France and directed Un amour à Paris in 1987. This was a love story about two Algerians in Paris. It was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and won an award.

In 1988, he went back to Algeria after some big protests. He made video documentaries about the political situation, including L'Après-Octobre and Femmes en mouvements. In 1993, as Algeria faced more challenges, he directed Bab El-Oued City. This film was about a young Algerian man and local groups. It was also shown at the Cannes Film Festival.

Due to difficult conditions for artists in Algeria, he moved back to France in the 1990s. In 1996, he directed Salut Cousin, a film about two cousins dealing with racism in Paris. This movie won an award at the Carthage Film Festival and was submitted for an Academy Award.

Since 2000, Allouache has made films in both Algeria and France. In 2003, he directed Chouchou, starring Gad Elmaleh, about a person who moves to Paris to find their nephew. In 2004, he directed Bab el-Web, a comedy about how the internet affects young people in Algeria.

Recent Works

In 2009, Allouache wrote and directed Harragas. This film tells the story of young Algerian refugees who leave their home country on small boats. His 2011 film, Normal!, won the award for Best Film at the 2011 Doha Tribeca Film Festival. This movie commented on the Algerian government's policy for certain individuals.

In 2012, he directed Le repenti (The Repentant). This film was about a person released from prison who learns about forgiveness. It was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and won an award at the International Film Festival of Kerala. In 2013, Les terrasses (The Rooftops), a film about life in Bab el-Oued, was shown at the Venice Film Festival. In 2015, Madame Courage was also shown at the Venice Film Festival. His 2016 documentary Enquête au paradis won an award at the FIPA festival. In 2017, Vent divin was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Awards

• His 2011 film Normal! won the award for Best Film at the 2011 Doha Tribeca Film Festival.
• In 2012, his film The Repentant was shown at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. It won the FIPRESCI Award for Best Asian Film at the 17th International Film Festival of Kerala.

Personal Life

Merzak Allouache has a daughter named Bahia Allouache, who is also a filmmaker.

Selected Films

See also

In Spanish: Merzak Allouache para niños