Director Yamina Benguigui doesn’t avoid the dangers of autobiography

THE OPINION OF THE “WORLD” – WE CAN AVOID

Three sisters never stop settling family wounds. In particular the one left by the separation of their parents when they were still little girls. The father then returned to live in Algeria with the youngest, Nohra (Maïwenn), and the little brother Redah, from whom no one has any further news.

Raised in France by their mother, the two oldest have succeeded. Djamila (Rachida Brakni) became mayor, and Zorah (Isabelle Adjani), playwright. She is preparing to put on a play on the story of the father. Which falls ill, forcing the three sisters to go to Algeria.

Identity quest, double culture, sorority, stakes and dangers of autobiography, the second fictional feature film by director Yamina Benguigui addresses all these themes through a succession of episodes whose logic escapes. A feeling that reinforces the absence of staging. In such vagueness, the actresses, given over to improvisation, do not perform miracles. At best, they are indifferent. At worst, they are caricature.