Chronicle of the Years of Fire (1975)

Director: Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina
Writers: Rachid Boudjedra, Tewfik Fares.
Stars: Yorgo Voyagis, Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina, Leila Shenna.    
Runtime: 177 minutes    

Plot: The beginings of the Algerian Revolution as seen through the eyes of a peasant.

Review: Despite winning the Palme d'Or at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival, this film remains largely unseen and unheard of, partly owing to its long running time of nearly three-hours, its strong political bent, and it's sweeping, often fragmented narrative; which combine to make it a hard sell. However, underneath its overt political exterior and its epic ambitions, there is a delicate personal story to be found. The film relays the tragedy of colonialism, through the eyes of those affected the most; the common citizen. Through the course of the film which spans between the beginning of the Second World War to the start of the Algerian Revolution; we witness the humble farmer Ahmad go through difficult times, each one more brutal and tragic than the other, and we see that it's not necessarily radical religion or oppressive politics that give rise to revolution, but a much simpler explanation, that of just trying to survive.

Chronicle, is an extraordinary film. One whose message remains just as important and relevant now as ever and it's a shame that it has been neglected for so long. It's the perfect companion piece, heck almost a prequel, to The Battle of Algiers, and is just begging for a digital restoration. Hopefully some brave distributor will give it the treatment it deserves.

Reviewed by Mohaiminul Islam