Hassan Guerrar unveils his first film, Barbès, little Algérie, in cinemas on October 16, 2024. Sofiane Zermani, aka Fianso, plays Malek, a forty-year-old binational who moves to Montmartre and is about to discover a world hitherto unknown to him: Barbès. With his nephew, Ryiad(Khalil Gharbia), recently arrived from Algeria, they explore this northern Paris neighborhood, home to a large part of the capital's Algerian community.
After settling in Montmartre, Malek, a solitary man in his forties, opens his door to his nephew Ryiad, who has just arrived from Algeria. Together, they dive into the vibrant, working-class neighborhood of Barbès, where the Algerian community plays a central role, even amid the ongoing health crisis. Through daily encounters and acts of solidarity, Malek begins to reconnect with fragments of his past, rekindling his ties to his roots and starting a long-delayed process of mourning. Meanwhile, Ryiad also searches for his place within this new landscape.
While Amélie Poulain may have been criticized for depicting a"postcard Montmartre", "emptied" ofthe minorities that make up the charm of this corner of Paris, it would seem that Hassan Guerrar has opted for the perfect opposite, showing Barbessians in all their richness and diversity.
Malek’s encounters with local personalities (a colorful cast of characters, mostly) help him reconnect with a part of himself he had long buried and come to terms with his roots. Shot during the Covid pandemic, Barbès is portrayed here in a way we've rarely seen—minus its residents—but how true is this depiction?
With a lot of soul - and the complicity ofAudrey Diwan, the film'sco-writer - Hassan Guerrar emphasizes the fraternity, solidarity and mutual aid shown by the inhabitants of Barbès, who easily manage to put aside their differences of belief for the common good. Malek is involved with a food aid association, while one of the local residents goes out of his way to help undocumented immigrants.
But beneath its appearance as a quaint village where the Mistral might easily blow through, what really lies behind Barbès, the neighborhood everyday Parisians of all backgrounds encounter? Could it be that this image is a bit too sanitized? As a true social dramedy, Barbès Little Algeria may suffer from a slightly too polished tone, with music that's a little too prominent, and a camera a bit too captivated by Fianso's handsome looks to be entirely convincing. But after all, in a world where everyone keeps an eye on their neighbor, why not?
Barbès, Little Algeria
Film | 2024
In theaters on: October 16, 2024
Available on Netflix starting January 16, 2026
Drama-comedy | Runtime: 1h33
Directed by Hassan Guerrar | Starring Sofiane Zermani (Fianso), Khalil Gharbia
Country: France
Hassan Guerrar's debut feature film, Barbès, Little Algeria, continues a tradition of social cinema that deeply explores local communities and identities. Set in a Paris neighborhood seldom depicted from the inside, the film is anchored by Sofiane Zermani’s compelling performance and a cast of characters rooted in everyday life. It offers a gentle yet thought-provoking reflection on memory, exile, and the passing down of stories, while also examining how a place can serve as a space for personal renewal.
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