Ali au pays des merveilles

1975 [FRENCH]

Documentary

1
IMDb Rating 6.6/10 10 111 111

french colonialism neo-colonialism working immigrants algerian diaspora algerian immigration african poor workers

Plot summary

Ali in Wonderland unveils the condition of immigrant workers in Paris in the 1970s. It is a cry of anger against exploitation and racism, uncompromisingly raising the role of the French state, the media, capitalism, and colonization in this system of domination that crushes those who suffer it. In this experimental essay on the condition of Algerian migrants in Giscard's France in the mid-1970s, every aesthetic choice has a precise and legible political motivation and gives body and voice to a figure completely absent from the experimental cinema of the time: that of the immigrant worker. Abouda is one of the children of immigrants seen in the film, and not a simple activist serving a cause, which is why the emotion of her experimental gesture, which she throws in the viewer's face, springs from a ferocity inscribed in her body, from an insatiable anger that inhabits her gaze.

Director

Djouhra Abouda Photo
Djouhra Abouda

Top cast

720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
542.73 MB
968*720
French 2.0
NR
us  
24 fps
12 hr 59 min
Seeds ...
1007.94 MB
1440*1072
French 2.0
NR
us  
24 fps
12 hr 59 min
Seeds ...

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by kiwirooster-43405 1 / 10

Same old story

Here is the thing for all the viewers who are not French or the French who still ignore their own History. Colonization in France did not happen like it did in England and there are really two models here: England colonized for Empire, France colonized in the name of Universalism. And why is that? Because in France it is the Socialist Party and a man named Jules Ferry who proposed, voted and ratified our past Colonial Laws for the expansion of the colonies. The war for independence in Indochina and Algeria came directly from these laws and Jules Ferry. Why is it important to know? Because Universalism has mutated to Alter-globalism, it follows the exact same principles and also comes from the Left. The last country to gain its independence from France was Algeria in 1962 and time was not kind on either France or its former colonies. Algeria being the worst of all, the military junta has been in power forever and the country has never been so poor. That's when colonialism becomes an ideology to literally excuse all the corruption and bad policies that takes place on the African continent, which our western and eastern political leaders are a part of. China, Russia and the USA have more influence and footing on the African continent now than any other Nation. The message of this documentary falls into the victimization played by the Left to ensure the status quo remains on the African continent. If you always satisfy yourself with being a victim, you will never come out victorious because there will always be a Master to keep your head under water. The African continent has not woken up yet with a few exceptions such as Morocco. It also a shame that the documentary does not elaborate on migration flows, very few French natives go to live in Africa, many Africans come to live in France. Now why would you come to live in the country that you consider to be the source of all your problems? And why do Africans who moved to France to study do not return to Africa to develop the continent of their ancestors? You cannot have your cake and eat it and this type of documentary and there are many only comfort Africans into asking others for reparation and apologies which mean they will always be under the control of another power. This mentality surrenders their power to exterior continents. The author of this documentary never really approach the idea that maybe Africans are responsible for their present and future.
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Reviewed by Howlin Wolf 7 / 10

How much has really changed?

Aside from the misogynistic attitude towards sex workers, I feel like, 46 years on, you could release this tomorrow in any 'first world' country, and its message would still be relevant... That's depressing!

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