THE KING OF ALGIERS

Omar, better known as Omar the Strawberry, is an old-fashioned bandit. Forced to flee to Algeria, he makes a living out of petty crime, accompanied by his famous sidekick Roger. After decades of ruling the French criminal underworld, they must come to terms with their new life together, which until now has been one of debauchery and violence.

• • The King of Algiers seduces with its atmosphere, with weird humour, with Magimel’s dance moves. And with this duo of psychotic runaways who pick a fight for no reason, and then stuff their faces with pastries. (Cineuropa)
  • The ruthless mingles with laughter, serious criminality mingles with the derisory of routine, romance invites itself into violence, flamboyance confronts the twilight, whimsical poetry nestles in cruelty. This is not just a gangster film and does not follow the usual trope of ‘started from the bottom’, we see them after their fall, trying to lethargically live ordinary, retired, and bored lives. The virtuosity with which all this is mixed is the film’s most seductive feature. Just like the characters it portrays; the singularity of the film lies in this in-between position that it occupies. (Jordan News)

• Violence/slang, colloquial language/May offend/Audience 18 and over

Cannes International Film Festival 2023: Midnight screening