The Kid from Chaaba (1997)

In the sixties, around twenty families fled their Algerian village of el-Ouricia, driven by poverty or war. Refugees in Chaâba, a French shantytown, they face the hard learning of integration.

Director:

Christophe Ruggia

Writers:

Azouz Begag (novel), Christophe Ruggia

Stars:

Bouzid Negnoug, Nabil Ghalem, Galamelah Lagra

7 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bouzid Negnoug	...	Omar
Nabil Ghalem	...	Hacène
Galamelah Lagra	...	Farid
Kenza Bouanika	...	Zohra
Khereddine Ennasri	...	Rabah
Rezlan Benamar	...	Saïda
Rabah Benamar	...	Idriss
Abdelkarim Chebel	...	Sélim
Ali Bellakhal	...	Nasser
Sonia Ayadi	...	Nadia
Sofiane Abbas	...	Kamel
Mohamed Fellag	...	Bouzid
Amina Medjoubi	...	Messaouda
Lounès Tazairt	...	Saïd
François Morel	...	Monsieur Grand

Storyline

The story takes place in France in 1965, and begins as Algeria celebrates the third anniversary of its independence. We are in "chaâba", that is to say in "village", a village inhabited by the Algerian community recently immigrated and made up of women, men and many children. The village is actually a shantytown, located on the outskirts of a metropolis. Le Gone du chaâba is a chronicle of daily life, essentially perceived from the point of view of children ("gone" means "kid" in a Lyon dialect), and particularly from the point of view of Omar, gone main. The daily life of a shanty town is first and foremost the mud, omnipresent, the only coveted fountain, the only toilet, discussions, meals, collective rites, such as circumcision, water leaks , fires, the search for treasure at the landfill and, for children, school. In the summer of 1966, the slum gradually emptied of its inhabitants, who were gradually rehoused in huge HLM bars.

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Plot Keywords:

what happened to epilogue | taxi | adult illiteracy | illiteracy | illiterate character | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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User Reviews

neorealist view of shantytown in 1960's France

Living in a slum of huts made with corrugated metal and salvaged bricks, mortar, and wood panels, a group of algerian family immigrants in mid-sixties France are shown as through the eyes of a young boy growing up. The story is based on the experiences of a now well-established writer and journalist. The adult men have constructions jobs, and the adult women spend most of the time in the camp preparing food, doing laundry, cleaning up. The kids do what kids like to do, and often get in trouble. The story is presented in a straight forward manner, chronologically, and without much creativity. The style is somewhat like Neo-realism. For a different style, somewhat more creative and profound in content as well about a group of people living in a shantytown, see "I Brutti, Sporchi, e Cattivi" of Ettore Scola.

Details

Country:

France

Release Date:

14 January 1998 (France)

Also Known As:

The Kid from Chaaba

Company Credits

Production Co:

Films Christiani, Orly Films, Vertigo

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1