El Gusto

Algerian-born director Safinez Bousbia delights with this astounding and uplifting story of the reuniting of an orchestra of Jewish and Muslim ‘Chaabi’ musicians torn apart by war half a century ago. Gentle and poignant, the film allows the beautiful ‘street’ music (a mixture of Andalusian and Arab musical traditions) to take centre stage, sweeping audiences along atmospheric casbah streets, through rehearsals, and into the port city of Marseilles, leading Screen Daily to lovingly call this the Algerian version of The Buena Vista Social Club. Come and get into ‘el gusto’ – the good mood!

Dir. Safinez Bousbia. Algeria/Ireland. 2011. 88 min. Print Source: Fortissimo

£7.50 / £6.50 conc / £5.50 memb / £5.50 child