The Last Queen
- In theatres14. June 2023
- Production year2022
- CountryAlgeria, France, Germany
- Length113
- LanguageAR/de/fr/eng
- ProductionAgat Films
- DirectorDamien Ounouri & Adila Bendimerad
- CastAdila Bendimerad, Dali Benssalah, Tahar Zaoui, Imen Noel Tereszkiewicz, Nadia Tereszkiewicz
- Age restriction16
- Festivals
Giornate degli Autori - Official Selection
Festival du Sud Neuchâtel
Festival International du Film Oriental Genève
- PosterDownload
- FlyerDownload
- Press KitDownload
- Social media materialDownload
- School dossierDownload
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- All ImagesDownload
Story
Spectacular costume drama from Algeria
Algeria, 1516. The pirate Aroudj Barbarossa, together with King Salim Toumi, drives the Spanish occupiers out of Algiers. But the peace is short-lived: rumour has it that Barbarossa has murdered the king and declared himself ruler. When everyone from the royal court flees, only Queen Zaphira stands up to him. Between history and legend, her rebellion tells of the personal and political turmoil she endures for the sake of Algiers.
The cinema spectacle from Algeria is the first of its kind and reproduces the multilingual and diverse world of the Maghreb at historical sites. Told for the first time from a female perspective, THE LAST QUEEN – EL AKHIRA breaks with tradition and creates space for a woman who becomes a heroine in adversity.
It is a story Algerians have never seen before and they need it to dig deep into their history and culture. – Cineuropa
The debut feature co-directed by Algerian director-actress Adila Bendimerad and French-Algerian director Damien Ounouri – immerses us, swinging between refined court life and bloody battles, royal splendour and fights to the last blood.
to the last blood. – Cineuropa
Co-director/co-writer Damien Ounouri described the film as
a costume drama, and he wasn’t lying. But it felt like so much more. It felt like a good episode of Game of Thrones. – Universal Cinema
The Last Queen (113 minutes) explores under-represented chapters of history and offers ample space for expurgated perspectives and voices. It is an intimate and beautifully shot period piece about a complicated female heroic figure. – High on Films