L’Attente des Femmes

In the 1920s, the Aurassian mountains are one of Algeria’s poorest regions, often ravaged by long winters, famine and disease. Brahim, a master craftsman, is one of the wealthiest men in the country. Married first to Nakhla, then to Gamra, he takes Fadah, a beautiful young girl, as his third wife, hoping that she will finally give him an heir before he’s too old. Fadah lives with the other two women in a closed world, forever cut off from the outside world. Only Brahim goes into town once a month to buy supplies and deliver his pottery. The man is rich and proud, with a violent temper. His affections are entirely devoted to his work. His wives exist only to obey and serve him. After a year of marriage, Fadah is still not pregnant. A healer is invited to examine her. After several days of maraboutist rituals, Hadda promises a forthcoming pregnancy, and reassures Brahim: “You’ll have an heir. Hemna, half vagabond, half beggar, prowls around Brahim’s home. He’s only there to rescue Fadah, whose suitor he once was. He discovers a tunnel that allows him to enter the house. A few months later, Fadah is pregnant and Brahim is overjoyed. Fadah’s status as a female slave changed to that of mistress of the house. Nakhla, the first wife, is not fooled and has no intention of letting herself be taken in. But where is the real? Where is the imaginary? Do Fadah and the tunnel really exist? Fadah navigates between two worlds: the dream of his escape and the nightmare of his inescapable destiny.