Samia (2000) - film review

Samia is a teenage girl belonging to a family of Algerian Muslims who have settled in the southern French town of Marseilles.  Although lured by the pleasures and opportunities that contemporary Western culture offers her, Samia is continually restrained by her family.  Naturally, they expect her to follow their traditions to the letter and, for a woman, this means staying at home all day looking after their men folk.  In the end, Samia has no option but to rebel against her family and find a new life for herself…

This eye-opening realist drama from director Philippe Faucon shows the palpable conflict which can exist been newly settled immigrants and their offspring.  The former seek the benefits of living in a new country but only in so far as it does not clash with their cultural traditions.  The latter see the move for what it really is: a chance to make a fresh start in a totally liberated society.  Faucon’s film portrays this conflict through the experiences of a rebellious teenage girl, Samia, and goes some way to conveying the true extent of the schism that can open up when teenagers attempt to cross the cultural divide.  Although not the most technically brilliant film, it does have impact and conveys its social messages powerfully.  The cast of non-professional actors bring a sense of hard-edged realism and humanity to the drama, reinforcing its relevance and terrible poignancy.

© James Travers 2004

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