Alsace–Algeria: personal stories and images

In 2022, to mark 60 years of Algerian independence, the Cinémathèque wanted to create a visual counterpoint to official accounts and shift the focus to personal, individual memories. The amateur films shot in Algeria held in the collections of MIRA, the Alsace region’s digital library, capture important dates and events where crowds of the Algerian populace share moments of hope or of anger, but also domestic life, from scenes inside the home to family vacations. After poring through a huge body of amateur films and personal archives, the team at MIRA ended up with seven original contemporary testimonials featuring Aïcha Bouabachi, Joseph Sellam, Joseph Schall, Marianne Bélatreche, Monique Pfaff, Mohamed Guerroumi and Jean-Yves de Beaufort who live in Alsace and have close, unique ties with Algeria. Speaking freely from personal experience, they describe the bonds between these two parts of the world that transcend the war and its contemporary repercussions.

This round table brings the filmmakers together to discuss the importance of memory transmission and amateur film as a historical source.