Film Screening: The Man from Oran

The Man from Oran depicts the betrayal of revolutionary ideals by Algeria's political leaders after the country gained independence from France in 1962. Djaffar -- the man from Oran -- has no interest in the liberation movement but finds himself involved with his friend Hamid in the murder of a French farmer. They get away, but, unknown to Djaffar until after the war, his wife is raped by the farmer's vengeful son and gives birth to a boy before dying in despair. When Djaafar returns home to a hero's welcome, he accepts his son but asks everyone to act as if the rape never occurred. Hamid, now a minister in the new government, helps him rewrite the past. But year after year the two friends grow apart, and their deliberate falsification of history has terrible consequences for them, for their friends and families, and for the country.