The Rooftops

eh le9wada hadi li rak tahder eliha c'est de l’esthétique. l’esthétique taei. hadaya l’esthétique ta3na gae, 9oliha w 3awdiha. If only I could write down this film’s entire script in this review. It’s highly quotable, beautiful, and, in my opinion, the best written Algerian film ever made. Every story, every problem, every character, and every rooftop adds something to the bigger picture. There’s something so authentic about the way everyone speaks that it never feels like you’re watching actors, it feels like you’re overhearing real people. This is one of those films that reminds you just how beautiful our dialect can be when it’s written with this much care. I also have to give the film credit for how daring it is. It isn’t afraid to tackle subjects that many Algerian films would rather avoid, and that’s exactly what makes it feel so honest. And Adila Bendimerad delivers yet another phenomenal performance. at this point, she simply doesn’t disappoint. What struck me the most was how the tragedies arrive without warning. Life is moving on as usual, people are laughing and talking, and then, in an instant, everything changes. There’s no dramatic build-up, just the harsh reality of how cruel life can be and the kind of people who exist in these neighborhoods. It feels brutally authentic, and that’s what stayed with me long after the credits rolled. P.S. I spent almost two years looking for this film, and now that I’ve finally downloaded it onto my laptop, it’s not going anywhere. I’m keeping it as a trophy.