Papicha

It's late 90's Algiers. There are constant terror attacks. Security forces are at high alert. Religious conservative groups are pushing women to cover up and pushing the country into an Islamic state. Nedjma (Lyna Khoudri) and her friends are fashion students who are still trying to maintain their western lifestyle. After her friend gets murdered, she decides to host a fashion show in defiance.

This is one stressful movie. The pressures placed upon Nedjma are unbearable. Lyna Khoudri is a magnetic beautiful actress. It's a devastating story. The last act is tough to watch. I'm uncertain about the ending. Obviously, the filmmaker wants to leave some hope. I can buy that but I'm not completely satisfied here. Nevertheless, it's a very good story and I'm taken with Lyna.

I get a feeling there are a lot of films about women in islamic societies, this ranks high. I recently watched "Mustang" and that film had almost an ethereal way of depicting the girls' innocence and foreshadowed sexuality. Papicha has a more realistic approach and it nails it just as well, or better.

It depicts many shades of the girls psychology, many levels of fear, worry, nuissance or offense. Their reactions might show humour, stubborness, pride, comformity, disbelief... It really shows the dilemma of wanting to be free, but also safe, wanting to keep hope but without fleeing or depending on anyone, all of it while suffering a reality closing in.

I don't think it can even be labelled as a feminist film with the sort of pressure they had to put up with, things got seriously messed up in a country with a violent past, from the process of independence to the rise of fundamentalism. There's only one scene with a man suffering the fanatism but it's there, an important one that refers to weaponizing language by comformist women, so there you go. One could call it a failed opportunity to broaden the issue but no, I think the film would have lost its rhythm and it does focus so well on the group of students that it pays off, widely.

Strong, confident, liveful film-making that takes you on a ride, makes you feel the pressure but helps the viewer all the way, even when it might get tough to watch. Recommended.

Excellent Algerian film on the advancemeny of religious fundamentalism in the country and about mysoginy. Very important as that phenomena also happens in other parts of the world and, as a Brazilian, I assure that not only in islamic countries. It is well filmed and there is a good development of interesting characters.

I absolutely loved it. Totally represents algeria back then. Also, it kind of still does until now. I went through a lot too, we want to live not to argue and fight to live.

Papicha is a powerful movie. Harsh and brutal, yet sometimes sweet and joyful despite the cruelty around the characters.

Papicha tells us never to give up. It's a cry of hope and resistance. A true gem.