The Harem of Madame Osmane

Nadir Moknèche’s first feature film is an eccentric comedy in which the plot circles around a housing complex run by a former freedom fighter who unleashes her frustration by manipulating other women. Madame Osmane, played by Spanish Carmen Maura (perhaps best known for her collaborations with cult director Pedro Almodovar), is nothing less than a comical house-tyrant, polluting the lives of those around her. The action takes place in 1993; soldiers patrol the streets, and the first signs of civil war are visible. Le Harem de Madame Osmane portrays surprising aspects of women's lives in Algeria. Behind closed doors they can express their seductive sides, but when faced with society they are forced to follow more traditional roles and values. cb