El caso Oussekine

Right from the start, one sympathises with Malik Oussekine. His huge ambition was to see Nina Simone; when I was in Algiers in the country of Malik's forebears in 1969 I made it my business to see her perform there as part of the Pan-African Festival of Art and Culture. So there was an affinity right from the start. But even had we not had this in common, the tragic events leading up to his death by police beating would have engendered empathy, shock and pity. I had as much sympathy for his family and their utter dignity which made a sharp contrast with the venal and disgraceful behaviours of the cops, ministers and defence barristers.

The cast was strong. Wonderful Hiam Abbas as Malik's mother played her role to perfection as she dies in all of the films she graces. Laurent Stocker took on another legal role after his performance in "A French Affair" but this time his character was forceful and not vacillating.

The political machinations shocked me, but I guess they were no different from those in any Western European country faced with a national scandal.

I presume that the family collaborated on the making of the film as the real brothers and sisters of Malik are shown at the end. Therefore intimate scenes are likely not to have been invented but true, which is an advantage. The family suffered so much to get a diluted and atfenuated form of justice in the end.

I watched the four episodes in one day. Horribly depressing but essential viewing.