Houria

Houria is a young dancer with talent that dreams of joining the Algeria National Ballet. To earn some money she works as a cleaner, but she also participates in clandestine bets. One night, after winning a big sum of money, she's assaulted by Ali, who wants to keep her small fortune. Houria wakes up in a hospital bed and finds that se can't speak and she will probably never dance again. Determined to keep following her dreams, she gives everything in her for her recovery. She'll meet a group of women that has been through something similar and with them she'll look for the way of living her passion for dance.

Mounia Meddour directs and writes the movie; her works include also 'Papicha' (2019), 'Edwige' (2015) and 'Cinema algerien, un nouveau souffle' (2011). Thanks to 'Papicha' she has won the César prize for Best First Film and the Sopadin prize for best script. 'Houria' has been selected for the Malaga Festival in 2023 for the International Mosaic section.

The film is produced by Ink Connection, High Sea Production, Cirta Films, Les Productions du Ch'Timi, Same Player, Scope Pictures, Shotinmars y Solar Entertainment. The cast includes Lyna Khoudri, Rachida Brakni, Nadia Kaci and Amira Hilda Douaouda. Khoudri already joined the director in 'Papicha', for which she received the César prize por Most Promising Actress. She's also won the best actress prize in the Venice Film Festival for her role in 'Les bienheureux' ('The Blessed').