El Manara

Three young friends—a girl (Asma) and two boys (Fawzi and Ramdane)—bound by a loving friendship, lead a carefree life. The riots of October 1988, the repression, the democratic explosion, and the Islamist drift that followed turn their lives upside down. Fawzi, a journalist involved in the independent press movement, and Ramdane, a doctor sensitive to the concerns of ordinary people, drift apart, separate, and find themselves caught up in a confrontation that is beyond their control. Asma tries in vain to prevent the trio from breaking up... But none of the three emerges unscathed...

Directed by Belkacem Hadjadj, El Manara leans on a strong ensemble — Khaled Benaissa, Sofia Nouacer Kouninef, Samia Meziane — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2004.