Arabic fiction, Fiction short films

LOVE, HUMOUR AND FANTASY

Jean PRAT
1962
Version : Arabe with French sub-tiitles
Duration : 96'
Format : 35 mm., Béta SP, Mpeg4
Black & white
Scriptwriter MAHIEDDINE, AGOUMI
Producer : CASTELLA Films
Country France
With AGOUMI, Leyla SOHL, AHMIDOU, MAHIEDDINE, ATF, Hadj OMAR, NOURIA, KALTOUM, KARZARLI
Music BACHETARZI et MISSOUM
Picture Jean TOURNIER

Original title : Amour, Humour et Fantaisie

The film is made up of the following four sketches:
– Le Jouet du Hasard (The Toy of Chance) : Sid Ahmed is both in love with the strong-willed Fatiha and the softer Nacera, to whom he runs when Fatiha overpowers him too visibly. Such a situation can’t go on forever.
– Ils ont le trac (They have stage fright) : Sidi Melh is such a shy man that he doesn’t dare refuse Toufik the hand of his daughter Nacina, who dreams of Mourad, a boy at least as shy as his father.
– Pour une Aiguille (For a Needle) : Khalti Souna, a rich and miserly woman, has lost a needle while talking. That’s all it takes for a mischievous young boy, Zerzouk, to get her into a fight with her neighbour, who beats up a good man who is simply trying to restore peace between the two women.
– Il ne ment jamais (He never lies) : Herkous, a close relative of Alceste, has very little faith in the human race. He sees nothing but deceit, lies and duplicity. So Herkous is pleasantly surprised when M’Sili brings him back his lost wallet from the street, pleased when he refuses to accept any reward, and thrilled when he hears M’Sili tell him that he has the face of a monkey. Such a concern for the truth is so rare and so precious that Herkous hires M’Sili straight away!