Mascarades

Mounir, who lives in a small village in the Algerian countryside, is a man rather too sure of himself whose one wish is to be thought well of by the other villagers. What spoils that standing is his stubborn sister Rym, who falls asleep anywhere and whom the village has decided will never marry. Coming back from town drunk one night, Mounir announces that a suitor has asked for her hand; as the invented story grows the suitor turns into a rich, blond Australian, and the village sets about preparing a wedding with no bridegroom anywhere in sight. Lyes Salem’s ninety three minute first feature is an Algerian French co-production; the director plays Mounir himself and Sarah Reguieg plays Rym, with Rym Takoucht and Mohamed Bouchaïb in the cast. It was Algeria’s entry for the 2009 Academy Awards.