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Soaked in a whimsical score, the disputes, romances and mishaps of an Algerian family (and their neighbors/enemies) unfold under the sun and on the sand in “Front Row,” the latest from veteran Algerian writer-director Merzak Allouache. As its title might suggest, the ensemble dramedy offers a privileged view into how the working-class Bouderbalas interact with one another on a day at the nearby beach. Early risers, the matriarch Zohra (Fatiha Ouared), her eldest son Rayan (Mehdi Sadi), teenage Houria (Hawa Baya) and a trio of younger kids arrive on the shore before anybody else in the hope of snagging an unblocked view of the ocean and a few hours of isolated fun before the crowds saturate the water.

But as beachgoers rapidly fill the space, a territorial dispute over the front row erupts between the Bouderbalas and more affluent Kadouris, who look down upon their counterparts with outspoken disdain.

In a significant acknowledgment of their filmic narrative and cultural representation, two cinematic masterpieces from Mad Solutions’ portfolio have been feted at the recently held Toronto Arab Film Festival (June 20-30). Karim Bensalah’s poignant drama, Six Feet Over, captured the covetous Nakheel Award for Best Feature Film, while Hend Bakr’s absorbing documentary, The Tedious Tour Of M, was honored with an Honorable Mention for Best Feature Film.

Bensalah’s Algerian-French drama, Six Feet Over, has already made waves across various film festivals, kicking off at the Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival with its world premiere. It earned the Best Screenplay Award at the Red Sea International Film Festival, where it also had its Arab World premiere. The compelling narrative follows Sofiane, a peripatetic son of a former Algerian embassy clerk, who embarks on a transformative journey of self-discovery when his visa is revoked, and he works for a Muslim funeral home.