LE SOLEIL ASSASSINÉ (2003)

Algerian filmmaker Abdelkrim Bahloul writes and directs the drama The Assassinated Sun, based on actual events in the newly independent Algeria of the 1970s. Following the country's liberation in 1962, the police didn't take kindly to gay poet Jean Senac (Charles Berling). Nevertheless, he was appreciated by a large liberal audience. The police also don't approve of writing student Hamid (Mehdi Dehbi) who writes and stars in a French-language play during a national theater competition. Senac, however, enjoys the play and proceeds to develop a friendship with Hamid. Even though the two were never publicly declared lovers, Hamid becomes the main suspect when Senac is found murdered. The Assassinated Sun won awards at the 2003 San Sebastián International Film Festival and the 2003 Montréal World Film Festival.

Last night at the Palm Springs International Film Festival I saw this fabulous, moving film about the Algerian poet Jean Senac portrayed by the masterful French actor Charles Berling. I felt the same emotion I experienced in "The Pianist". No one in the audience moved at the movie's finale. Issues like homosexuality and violence were very soft-pedaled and the screen comes alive with Senac's brilliant poetry. There's a magnificent group of young actors portraying young actors who just "make" the film.. especially Ouassini Embarek the actor and Mehdi Dehbi as Hamid in his first film...handsomely refreshing.....

The film is a wonderful touching biographical account of Senac - Several times it reminded me of "Before Night Falls" the Javier Bardem/ film about Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas...... It is all quite an expose of alarming Algerian politics from thirtysome years ago....sadly the situation continues today. It is a brilliant statement for freedom of speech, self, and artistic expression..I'd give this film a "9" with pleasure. We will definitely hear more about this movie....it's not to be missed.
P.M.Cabe from Palm Springs, California

INFO:
ORIGINAL TITLE: Le soleil assassiné
ALSO KNOWN AS: The Assassinated Sun (International: English title)
YEAR: 2003
DIRECTOR: Abdelkrim Bahloul
GENRE: Drama
RUNTIME: 85 min
COUNTRY: France | Algeria | Belgium | Tunisia
LANGUAGE: French
CAST: Charles Berling, Mehdi Dehbi, Ouassini Embarek, Abbes Zahmani, Clotilde de Bayser

INTERNET MOVIE DATABASE:
NUMBER: 0348874
USER RATING: 6.8/10
AWARDS: 2 wins & 2 nominations
KEYWORDS: ␀