Tea in the Harem (1985)
"Le thé au harem d'Archimède" (original title)

Director:

Mehdi Charef

Writers:

Mehdi Charef, Mehdi Charef (novel)

Stars:

Kader Boukhanef, Rémi Martin, Laure Duthilleul

4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kader Boukhanef	...	Madjid
Rémi Martin	...	Pat
Laure Duthilleul	...	Josette
Saïda Bekkouche	...	Malika
Nicole Hiss	...	Solange
Brahim Ghenaim	...	The father
Nathalie Jadot	...	Chantal
Frédéric Ayivi	...	Bengston
Pascal Dewaeme	...	Thierry
Sandrine Dumas	...	Anita
Bourlem Guerdjou	...	Bibiche
Jean-Pierre Sobeaux	...	Jean-Marc
Nicolas Wostrikoff	...	Stéphane
Hugues Amesland	...	(as Hughes Amesland)
Santiago Bejarano-Chaux

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

outsider | french suburb

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French Arabic

Release Date:

6 June 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tea in the Harem

Company Credits

Production Co:

Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC), K.G., M&R Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in P.R.O.F.S. (1985)

User Reviews

Mehdi Charef challenges stereotypical French attitude of liberty,equality and fraternity.

It is entirely due to Mehdi Charef that in today's French Cinema Beur filmmakers like Abdel Kechiche (La faute à Voltaire) and Malik Chibane (Douce France) are getting instant success and recognition.He is recognized as the trend setter of Beur Cinema for having given a distinctive image to Arab youths by directing "Le thé au harem d'Archimède" in 1985.His film won prestigious Jean Vigo prize in 1985.This film is based on the autobiographical novel written by Mehdi Charef for which Costa Gavras provided financial support as its producer.Le thé au harem d'Archimède talks about the marginal figures of French society for whom there are no opportunities to progress in life,no jobs to provide them with a decent living.These are the people who know that hollow slogans of liberty,equality and fraternity are of absolutely no use to them.It is the light tone of this film which will captivate viewers.Those who know French suburbs from "La Haine" are for a great shock as there is less violence as compared to Mathieu Kassovitz's film.