Algeria's Unmade Epic: President Backs New Film on National Hero

Algeria is trying again to make a major Hollywood-style film about Emir Abd El-Kader. The 19th-century leader is a national hero for resisting the French colonial conquest. Previous attempts to create this movie have all failed. Now, the project has the direct and active support of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. The film aims to tell the story of the Emir's long military and political struggle. He united Algerian tribes against French forces for years. The project reflects a continued desire to highlight this foundational chapter of Algerian history on a global stage.