Films can change society: Bouchareb Thursday, 28 October 2010 06:41

DOHA: Two-time Oscar nominee Franco-Algerian filmmaker Rachid Bouchareb (pictured) proved that films have the power to change society during his ‘Masterclass’ held yesterday as part of Doha Talks which is a highlight of the five-day 2010 Doha Tribeca Film
Festival (DTFF).

Born in France to Algerian parents, Bouchareb has made films which attracted criticism and protests for their historical themes revolving around colonialism, injustice, identity and predicaments of the underprivileged, among others.

Bouchareb’s film Days of Glory, that highlights the role of North African soldiers fighting for France in the Second World War, has changed government policy to bring foreign combatants’ pensions at par with what French veterans are paid.

The filmmaker said he had never expected the movie to influence the lives of the veterans and France in general.

His latest film ‘Outside the Law,’ a sequel to ‘Days of Glory,’ faced protests when it competed for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival this year but was well received when it opened at the DTFF on Tuesday.

Some French historians criticised the film saying it is inaccurate and is not backed by serious historical research while writing it. However, Bouchareb refuted the argument.

“It took many years to finish the project. We needed to conduct a lot of research and interviews to get to the heart of the story,” he said, adding that more than four years were spent in completing the film.

“When you decide to make a movie you have to understand why you are making it.”

“I’m perplexed as to why people approach me and raise questions about the film’s historical aspects. Yes, there are events in the film that are real, but they must also understand that being a film, it has fictional elements.” The highlight of the film is the Setif massacre scene wherein 45,000 people were killed in a series of reprisals which lasted for weeks triggering the Algerian War. The scene, though controversial, is the most interesting one for Bouchareb.

With regard to the film industry, he said, there’s a need to build the industry year after year by producing good films.

“Funding is very important and I think there are a lot of possibilities in making quality films in Qatar with the establishment of the Doha Film Institute and sound funding,” he added.

Apart from winning several awards, Bouchareb has been acclaimed for his films Dust of Life (1995) and Days of Glory (2006), both receiving Best Foreign Language Film nominations at the Oscars. Outside the Law has been chosen as Algeria’s entry to the upcoming 83rd Academy Awards.

The Peninsula