The Last Queen

THE LAST QUEEN [2022]

Starring: Adila Bendimerad, Dali Benssalah, Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Imen Nouel

Direction by Adila Bendimerad & Damien Ounouri

Language: Arabic

I can't lie: I tend not to enjoy historical films when they are set in time periods before the mid-1850s. I don't know why: it's just a personal preference, I guess. But the timings worked out for me so I went to see it. My only real motivation was the fact that the movie centered around a woman, unafraid to challenge stereotypes. Seeing characters like this on the big screen is always fun - and I am grateful that I dragged myself to see the movie, because it was amazing. 

The film, set in early 16th century Algiers, follows the story of the pirate Barbarossa, masquerading as a 'liberator' Aruj, as he tries to convert Muslim land to Christianity. He penetrates into high Algiers society, but, he must overcome obstacles to reach his goal: most notably Queen Zaphira, the wife of the late King Salim Toumani, who will look death in the face to reclaim the land controlled by her late husband. This is Queen Zaphira's story: a story of love, loss, danger, and great personal sacrifice to live a life of contentment, a life that was taken away from her.

Powerfully directed, written and performed, Adila Bendimerad is a true talent. Of the few movies I have seen from the Arab World, I can say that she is one of the most talented actresses I’ve ever come across. She was probably the strongest link in the production: everyone else in the cast was good, but nobody came close to rivalling Bendimerad.

What I liked a lot about this movie was the fact that it was so intimate and personal. Period pieces that deal with monarchs and regality are often very overdone, and grand to the point where the movies are so stylised that there is very little character development: important layers are often missing. This movie refreshingly goes in a very different way. The focus on Queen Zaphira, the main character is profound and intimate, so I was able to get a full picture of her personality. The regal, grandiose aspect that comes with any monarch-related film came through in the set and costume design (which was, by the way, phenomenal considering the small budget it had). 

There was a strange feeling I had throughout the movie: it felt almost modern. I live in Dubai, where furniture stores have started to sell pieces inspired from the time when the movie was set. I felt like I had seen all the furniture in stores before, so it shattered the illusion slightly. Also, I haven’t seen many period pieces set before the 1900s that were made recently. I was taken aback by the camera work: the lighting and the angles. It was good work, but I was just a little taken aback. If anything, that is a signal to me that I should be broadening my horizons in regards to which movies I should be watching. 

The film is split into five distinct acts, and I would say that the 4th and 5th were by far the best. The movie, to me, almost followed the structure of a Shakespearean play. The tension builds up in the first acts, ending in a giant conflict and confrontation in the final act. That was pretty interesting to see - no other film I have seen has taken on this structure, apart from the Shakespeare film interpretations I have seen. 

Overall, a super worthwhile watch. I think me reading into the set design and the actual technical aspect of the movie made me think less of it, but I think that is just my issue. 

8/10