Directed by Alexandre Arcady, The Blond Boy from the Casbah (also known as Once Upon a Time in Algeria; French title: Le petit blond de la Casbah) will be shown in two San Francisco Bay Area theaters: Orinda Theatre (from November 15 to November 21, 2024) and the Jarvis Conservatory in Napa Valley (on November 30, 2024) as part of the annual International Film Showcase.
The French drama is autobiographical as it retraces Arcady’s own upbringing in Algiers. When he was ten years old and playing with his friends in the alleys of the casbah, he recalls tourists wanting to take a photo of him, the only one of the group with blond hair and blue eyes. Suddenly feeling different, he started observing the world around him: the neighborhood where he lived, the neighbors, and his relatives.
Synopsis of The Blond Boy from the Casbah
Passionate filmmaker Antoine travels to his birthplace, Algiers, with his young son to present his new film: an account of his childhood in mid-20th century Algeria during the country’s civil war. As he wanders through the city, the filmmaker immerses us in the moments of happiness, laughter, and tears of his childhood – spent between school, friends, and his Jewish family. Growing up in the final moments of Algeria’s pre-independence period, the young Antoine discovers his profound fascination with cinema and starts to understand who he truly is.
Watch the trailer
The film will be shown at the Orinda Theatre (from November 15 to November 21, 2024) and the Jarvis Conservatory in Napa Valley (on November 30, 2024).
For showtimes and ticket information, visit The Blond Boy from the Casbah – International Film Showcase.
About the International Film Showcase
The International Film Showcase, an arm of the Lamorinda Film and Entertainment Foundation (LFEF), began in January 2011 presenting (for one week a month) a local area premiere of an acclaimed international film not available on home media or television. 🎞 Visit the International Film Showcase website for tickets and showtimes.
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Bonjour: A Francophile Blog 
An interesting-looking film! With the titular character being a “fish out of water” of sorts, it looks to be something I’d like to give a watch. Thanks for sharing, Darlene!
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