Papicha at Cinema Akil

The first feature from writer-director Mounia Meddour, Papicha, is set during the Algerian Civil War of the 1990s, also referred to as the "Black Decade," and was inspired by real events.

“Papicha” (the word is Algerian slang for a hip, pretty girl) nicely captures the fast-talking energy of Nedjima and her friend. It tells the story of a young woman obsessed with fashion whose freedom, like that of all other women in the country, was increasingly curbed until there was basically nothing else to do but either rebel or leave — both, of course, being devastating outcomes.

Frightened by the uncertainty of a country careening towards aggressive fundamentalism and tired of the way of life in her home country, Nedjima organises a fashion show to take back control.

This is a film designed to be championed by everyone wanting to support a woman’s right to self-expression: It’s got a female director (not a novelty in the Maghreb), depicts powerful young women refusing to bow down to fundamentalism, and is bursting with energy and likable figures.

Papicha has been selected as the Algerian entry in the Best International Feature Film category for the upcoming Academy Awards and was also screened at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.


Timings:
15, 23 Nov: 9pm
22 Nov: 5pm
25 Nov: 8:30pm
16, 24, 26, 27, 28 Nov: 7pm, 9pm
17, 18, 19, 20, 21 Nov: 7:30pm, 9:30pm
29 Nov: 4:30pm