Femmes d’Alger dans leur appartement

Assia Djebar

With France culture

An Algerian woman of letters writing in French, Assia Djebar was the author of novels, short stories, poetry, and essays. In 2005, she was elected to the Académie française, becoming the first North African woman writer to be admitted.

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Presentation

Each summer, France Culture takes over the courtyard of the Calvet Museum for a week of readings, poetry, thought, and artistic creations. In resonance with the Festival d’Avignon’s programme, this edition celebrates Arab culture and language—its literature and musicality. Acclaimed actresses and actors will lend their voices to emblematic texts, joined by writers, poets, musicians, and guest artists specially invited for the occasion.

Women of Algiers in Their Apartment by Assia Djebar

An Algerian woman of letters writing in French, author of novels, short stories, poetry, and essays, Assia Djebar was elected to the Académie française in 2005, becoming the first North African woman writer to be granted membership.

“In 1832, in newly conquered Algiers, Delacroix spent a few hours inside a harem. From this visit, he brought back a masterpiece—Women of Algiers in Their Apartment—which remains a ‘stolen glance.’ A century and a half later, twenty years after the war of independence in which Algerian women played an undeniable role, how do they live their daily lives? What freedom have they been able to claim?”

Distribution

Adaptation by Sophie-Aude Picon, based on the short story published by Albin Michel
With Rachida Brakni and Louise Chevillotte
Original music and performance Smadj
Directed by Sophie-Aude Picon
Assistant director Thomas Ignatiew