Opium and the Stick
L'Opium et le Bâton
Synopsis
In 1950, in Algeria, in a village in Kabylia, Algerian resistance fighters resisted the French occupation army. Bachir returns to the village to escape the clashes ravaging Algiers. In Thala, he has two brothers, Ali and Belaïd. The first is engaged with the ALN (The National Liberation Army) and fights against the colonizer. His second brother, Belaïd, the eldest, is convinced of a French Algeria. His family torn apart, Bachir decides to join the war and takes sides against the repression of the French army. The French army is trying in vain to turn the population against the insurgents by using disinformation. The more time passes, the more the inhabitants of the village and surrounding areas, oppressed, rally to the cause of the FLN, their houses and their fields will be burned... Adaptation to the cinema of the eponymous novel Opium and the Stick, published in 1965, by Mouloud Mammeri, the film was dubbed into Tamazight (Berber), a first for Algerian cinema.
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Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ahmed Rachedi
- Screenplay & Story
- Ahmed Rachedi, Mouloud Mammeri
- Original Score
- Philippe Arthuys
- Original Title
- L'Opium et le Bâton
- Country of Origin
- Algeria
- Spoken Languages
- Arabic, French
- Runtime
- 2h 17m
- Production Studios
- Office National pour le Commerce et l'Industrie Cinématographique (ONCIC)
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ahmed Rachedi
Ahmed Rachedi, Mouloud Mammeri
Philippe Arthuys
Éric Pluet
Department Leadership Roster
Ahmed Rachedi
Director
Éric Pluet
Editor
Philippe Arthuys
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Opium and the Stick.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Opium and the Stick
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Opium and the Stick about?
In 1950, in Algeria, in a village in Kabylia, Algerian resistance fighters resisted the French occupation army. Bachir returns to the village to escape the clashes ravaging Algiers. In Thala, he has two brothers, Ali and Belaïd. The first is engaged with the ALN (The National Liberation Army) and fights against the colonizer. His second brother, Belaïd, the eldest, is convinced of a French Algeria. His family torn apart, Bachir decides to join the war and takes sides against the repression of the French army. The French army is trying in vain to turn the population against the insurgents by using disinformation. The more time passes, the more the inhabitants of the village and surrounding areas, oppressed, rally to the cause of the FLN, their houses and their fields will be burned... Adaptation to the cinema of the eponymous novel Opium and the Stick, published in 1965, by Mouloud Mammeri, the film was dubbed into Tamazight (Berber), a first for Algerian cinema.
Who directed Opium and the Stick?
Opium and the Stick was directed by Ahmed Rachedi.
Who stars in Opium and the Stick?
The principal cast of Opium and the Stick includes Sid Ali Kouiret, Marie-José Nat, Mustapha Kateb, Rouiched, Jean-Louis Trintignant.
When was Opium and the Stick released and how long is it?
Opium and the Stick was released in 1970 with a total runtime of 2h 17m.
Who composed the musical score for Opium and the Stick?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Opium and the Stick was composed by Philippe Arthuys.
Is Opium and the Stick based on a book or true story?
Opium and the Stick is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Mouloud Mammeri".