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What the Day Owes the Night
Ce que le jour doit à la nuit
2012 162 min France, Algeria, Tunisia 0+
★7.6
Drama, Romance
Director: Alexandre Arcady
🎭 Based on
«What the Day Owes the Night»
byYasmina Khadra
Trailers
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Description
Algeria, the 1930s. Younes is nine years old when he is put in his uncle's care in Oran. Rebaptized Jonas, he grows up among the Rio Salado youths, with whom he becomes friends. Emilie is one of the gang; everyone is in love with her. A great love story develops between Jonas and Emilie, which is soon unsettled by the conflicts troubling the country.
Budget:
$17
Starring
Nora Arnezeder
Actor
Fu'ad Aït Aattou
Actor
Anne Parillaud
Actor
Awards
1 nomination
Key opinion
Ce que le jour doit à la nuit is a visually stunning epic that succeeds as an immersive, emotionally resonant romance for some, while others view it as a shallow, poorly paced exercise in style over substance. While the film captures the beauty of Algeria, it polarizes audiences with its slow, meditative nature and a lead performance that many find emotionally vacant.
| Cinematography | The film excels in visual presentation, featuring breathtaking, calming landscapes that effectively transport the viewer to Algeria. | |
| Acting | The lead performance is criticized as static and decorative, functioning more as a visual ornament than a compelling character portrayal. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative structure and character development are viewed by many as empty or lacking in substance despite the potential for deep historical exploration. | |
| Runtime | The three-hour runtime rewards those who seek an immersive, meditative escape, while others find the pacing exhausting and the plot thin. | |
| Ending | The conclusion is a point of significant contention, with some finding it a deeply moving, tear-inducing experience and others dismissing it as vague and disappointing. |