The Arab

Overview

Haroun is an old bachelor who has lived in Oran for several years. A retired civil servant, he leads a reclusive life until the day he meets Kamel in a bar—a journalist to whom he tells an incredible story dating back to 1942. He claims to be the brother of ‘the Arab’ killed in a story told in one of the most famous novels of the 20th century, ‘The Stranger’ by Albert Camus. An Arab with an erased name: Moussa. Through anger, assertions, details, and confidences, Haroun finally convinces the journalist to listen to his story. His confession is a cry of freedom and distress—but above all, a cry of revolt: against an abusive mother, against a country that failed to achieve true independence, against a book, and against a famous French writer.

Directed by Malek Bensmaïl

Top cast

Ahmed Benaissa

Haroun

Hiam Abbass

Mother

Dali Benssalah

Haroun (young)

Nabil Asli

Kamel

Amina Ben Ismaïl

Grégoire Monsaingeon

Mustapha Ayad

Raphaël Thiéry

Brahim Derris

Moussa

C

Choumeyssa Nassah

A

Amar Guermoud

I

Inesse Guermoud

L

Latif Benahmed

S

Stéphanie Cosserat

H

Hania Chabane

Details