The stunning landscapes of North Africa, the haunting music of Bernardo Sandoval and the masterly storytelling of novelist and filmmaker Mehdi Charef offered a memorable cinematic experience for more than 500 high school students and teachers at World Cinema Day 2005.

On April 1, students and their teachers participated in a screening of the award-winning film Daughter of Keltoum at Madison’s historic Orpheum Theatre on State Street. Sally Magnan, professor of French and director of the Language Institute, and Reem Hilal, graduate student in the Department of African Languages and Literature, introduced the film. Filmmaker Mehdi Charef and leading actress Baya Belal answered questions after the film.

The high school students maintained a lively discussion lasting 45-minutes. Students were eager to interact with Charef and Belal. Sally Magnan facilitated the discussion and also served as interpreter. Some language students practiced their skills and posed their questions in French.

World Cinema Day coordinator Catherine Reiland was very pleased with the event, “Students really connected with the film and asked very intelligent and thoughtful questions.” Participants asked Charef and Belal to comment on many issues ranging from the condition of North African women, to Charef’s use of dialogue, to Belal’s preparation of her character.

The Wisconsin Film Festival also screened Daughter of Keltoum for general audiences on Saturday, April 2. Charef and Belal were present for a question and answer period following the showing.

On April 1 Charef and Baya Belal also participated in activities sponsored by the UW-Madison Professional French Masters Program and the Department of French and Italian.