Les diseurs de vérité (2000)

Algerian journalist Sahafi is faced with a dilemma. If he returns to Algeria, he's almost certain to be assassinated. If he takes political asylum in the Netherlands, he is treated like a pariah.

Director:

Karim Traïdia

Writer:

Karim Traïdia

Stars:

Sid Ahmed Agoumi, Mahmoud Benyacoub, Said Bouskra

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Sid Ahmed Agoumi	...	(as Agoumi)
Mahmoud Benyacoub
Said Bouskra
Monic Hendrickx
Rabah Loucif
Mireille Perrier
Jaap Spijkers

Storyline

Algerian journalist Sahafi is faced with a dilemma. If he returns to Algeria, he's almost certain to be assassinated. If he takes political asylum in the Netherlands, he is treated like a pariah.

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sahafi, an Algerian journalist, survives several attacks on his life. When he comes to Holland to give a lecture, his friend Madjid suggests he should ask for political asylum. Sahafi thinks about the proposal, but is killed in another assassination attempt. Then Karim Traïdia stops time in his film and provides a glimpse of the two worlds in which Sahafi would have lived, had he lived. The first possibility is a threatened life as outspoken journalist in a fatherland with a non-democratic regime. The other possibility is a life in Holland as unemployed journalist who has to wait in silence to see whether his application for political asylum is accepted by the bureaucrats. The film portrays a life in extremes, from the excitement of the art of survival and bitter survival humor to a dependence on others and waiting tensely in a foreign country. In an almost theatrical style, with meticulously composed images, Traïdia cuts effortlessly back and forth between the time of the protagonist in Algeria and in Holland. The beautiful acting and the intelligent production help the movie to succeed in communicating the constant paranoia under an oppressive regime juxtaposed with the blundering lack of understanding of the paternalistic Dutch.

User Reviews

great movie

when this movie came out in holland it didn't receive too much attention, which was a little strange because the director (Traidia) was also the director of the critically acclaimed and much-liked 'de Poolse Bruid' (the polish bride) The reviews that did came out weren't too positive on this film they thought it was too short and too complex... I agree it was a little short but the story is well developed within the 70 (75?) minutes. The story is definitely a highly personal one and the film breathes this. It's subject is also a controversial one although maybe a bit unknown too americans.

all in all an intelligent, personal and sometimes funny film from a great director.. 3 1/2 out of 5

Details

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

French

Release Date:

6 April 2000 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Speakers of the Truth

Company Credits

Production Co:

Motel Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Color:

Color