This summer, Algeria became the first country to enter the 2020 International Feature Film Oscar race when it submitted Mounia Meddour’s “Papicha” for consideration. Now the nation is putting the film’s Academy Award chances in jeopardy. According to HuffPost, “Papicha’s” planned September 21 Algerian premiere was cancelled, as were scheduled September 22 and 23 screenings. In order to be considered for the foreign-language Oscar, the film must play in Algeria by September 30.
The authorities offered no reason for the “temporary cancellation,” nor did they announce new screening dates.
One of the film’s co-producers, Belkacem Hadjadj, confirmed the cancellation. “Nobody could give me an explanation,” he told HuffPost. “I asked to meet the Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture, he did not receive me. I sent a letter to the Minister of Communication … to draw his attention to the situation, as this could have a negative impact on the media. I have not received a response yet,” he detailed. “Should I consider this censorship? However, this film has already received its operating visa in Algeria. I do not understand.”
A Cannes 2019 Un Certain Regard selection, “Papicha” takes place in the ’90s, during the Algerian Civil War. It tells the story of Nedjma (Lyna Khoudri) and Wassila (Shirine Boutella), friends who make money by designing and making clothes, then selling them to “papichas,” or pretty girls, at the local club. “Like the rest of the country, they will soon be caught up in Algeria’s bloody civil war,” the film’s synopsis hints. “But the pair continue to fight for their freedom, and for their dream of staging their own fashion show.”
TheNewArab has suggested that Algeria’s cancellation of “Papicha” is due to the film’s portrayal of independent, rebellious young women. “The longstanding, but crucial question of the role of women in Algeria, is apparently still too controversial for discussion,” the source opined. “‘Papicha’ is also perhaps a mirror for the movements today. It shows what has been, and what could be especially if the people forget their own power,” it continued. “The sea of women flooding the streets of cities and towns across Algeria every Friday to demand a democratic and accountable leadership instead of military rule, the redistribution of the country’s wealth and resources, and an end to censorship and repression, refuse to return to those days [of the civil war].”
If “Papicha’s” cancellation is indeed censorship, it’s not the first foreign-language Oscar contender to be in this situation. Last year Wanuri Kahiu’s lesbian romance “Rafiki” was banned in Kenya, its homeland, where homosexuality is illegal. The ban was eventually lifted for a week so that the film could be eligible for the Oscars.
“Papicha” is Meddour’s feature debut and is scheduled to open in France October 9. No word on a U.S. release.
Nominees for the 2020 edition of the Oscars will be announced on January 13 and the ceremony is set to take place February 9.
