Abderrahmane Bouguermouh, an outstanding film-maker, withdraws from the world of cinema. At the age of 71, he feels tired, exhausted by illness. His tousled beard is a revealing sign. He released several short and full-length footages. The last is The Forgotten Hill (1996), made from Mouloud Mammeri’s novel which bears the same title. He settled in Ighzer Amokrane (Béjaïa). Just the time of watching his career going along and thinking of something else. He speaks to us about it in this interview which he gave us some days ago.

Abderrahmane Bouguermouh. Film-maker
“I keep myself out of the limelight on my Hill”

How is Abderrahmane Bouguermouh getting on?

Well, Bouguermouh has kept himself out of the limelight in his hill in Ighzer Amokrane. You know, when the table is cleared, one should know how to leave. I think that for me, it is high time to do something else than cinema. Because today, I have no more force, not to make films, but to triumph over in the course of obstacles to produce them. I cannot run any more after the administration to remove a constraint or beg for dinars for a financial assemblage. It is not any more within my physical capacity first. And, it is for this reason that I decided to withdraw from film business definitely.

Therefore, it is silence. We do not shoot any more…

I have perhaps a documentary to produce. It is really, a debt which I owe to Taos Amrouche. Then, there are two things: either I do it and therefore I would be overjoyed or I do not do it, and in that case, I shall carry this regret with me in my tomb. As for cinema, one should claim that there is a moment where it is necessary to know how to stop. But, on the other hand, we come from a generation which cannot stay without doing anything. And it is therefore logical that I set myself to writing.

About what?

It will be a novel. I called it “Anza” (the shouting). It is a century’s history of Kabylia. It is about the Kabylia which is not known. I describe the itinerary of a young man who came from a family of militants who struggled for the national cause from 1871 to 1947. It is in fact, the whole history of Algeria from 1900 till 1947.

When will the book be printed?

You know, I have a lot of constraints also; serious health troubles, problems of family nature. But, the writing of my novel moves on rather well. I am at the stage of correction. Anyway, the novel is written, and I do not know which editor will want to take it.

Perhaps as part of Algiers, capital of Arab culture …

Never. Never from them and never from me.

You were invited at the beginning of the filming of Ali Mouzaoui’s film. Your feelings?

It was only on behalf of Ali Mouzaoui. He is my friend. I cannot drop him as he needs me to bring him a moral support. I was there to be at his sides; as for the rest, I couldn’t care less about it.

Saïd Gada
Source: El-Watan May 3rd, 2007
Translated by D.Messaoudi