Safinez Bousbia's ambitious and moving documentary tells the amazing story of the reunion and reconciliation of a group of Muslim and Jewish musicians fifty years after their separation during the Algerian Civil War and follows their story as they are brought back together to form a new orchestra, El Gusto, and perform at an extraordinary concert in France. The film is inspired by the director's visit to Algiers in 2003. Intrigued by some old photographs of a music class from the 1940s, she set out to track down these lost friends, now aged between 70 and 100 and living across Algeria and France. The members of El Gusto recount the country's turbulent history and their undying passion for Chabbi - a rhythymic and unique cocktail of Anulasian, Berber, Arabic and Flamenco music traditions. Chabbi was the homegrown music of the Algerian Casbah; the music of the streets, the coffee shops and weddings that united and defied religion, class and ethnicity.

Screenings:
30.07.2012 22:00
Siri Fort 2