Background

Merzak Allouache was born on October 6, 1944, in Algeria. He is the son of Omar and Fatma Allouache.

Education

Merzak Allouache studied filmmaking in Algiers at the Institut National du Cinéma and subsequently at L'Institut des hautes études cinématographiques in Paris.

Career

Merzak Allouache made his debut in 1976 with the film "Omar Gatlato." Not everyone was happy with what Allouache wanted to say in “Bab el-Oued City” (1994), which took a scalpel to the violence and growing fundamentalism plaguing the country, and the official backlash directly led to the helmer’s move to France. Once established in Gaul, Allouache filmed popular comedies such as “Salut, Cousin!” (1996) and “Chouchou” (2003), addressing problems like exile and gender identity. Since returning to Algeria in 2004, his work has turned darker, looking at immigration (“Harragas,” 2009), the Arab Spring (“Normal,” 2011) and the strain of political Islam (“The Repentant,” 2012, and “The Rooftops,” 2013).

Achievements

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  During his career Merzak Allouache has directed 18 films. He was Variety’s Middle East Filmmaker of the Year in 2013.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Bab el-Oued 1995

• movie

  • Bab El-Oued City 1994
  • CHOUCHOU 2003
  • Harragas 2009
  • Normal 2011
  • Salut cousin! 1996
  • Bab El Web 2005

Connections

Merzak Allouache married Lazib Anissa in 1962. They have one daughter, Bahia Allouache.

Father:

Omar Allouache

Mother:

Fatma Allouache

Spouse:

Lazib (Anissa) Allouache

Daughter:

Bahia Allouache

References

• Contemporary Authors A Bio-Bibliographical Guide to Current Writers in Fiction, General Non-Fiction, Poetry, Journalism, Drama, Motion Pictures, Television, and Other Fields
  2008