MASQUERADES

All he wanted was a little respect and admiration from the neighbors in his small Algerian village. He got way more than he bargained for. Small-time gardener Mounir (director Lyes Salem) is tired of the village's mockery of his attractive younger sister Rym's narcolepsy. A moment was all it took to spin a fantastical web of lies that involves Rym's engagement to a European business mogul. As the story swells, a maelstrom of excitement envelopes Mounir and his family, who can't help but get swept up in the adulation and praise. But soon they find themselves in a tangled mess of jealousy and irrepressible desire around the impending wedding hysteria.

Set amidst the desert landscape of rural Algeria with an attractive cast, quirky characters, and strong direction and acting, this light comedy of errors is a treat with a larger social purpose. With two award-winning short films under his belt (including the César-winning Cousines), writer/director Lyes Salem's feature debut received accolades at international film festivals and was awarded a Lumiere Award for Mohamed Bouchaïb's performance as Mounir's son.