Zemmouri, Mahmoud

(1946- )

   Actor, director, and screen-writer. Mahmoud Zemmouri was born in Algeria but came to France, where he became a director. His films, often placed under the rubrics beur cinema and cinéma de banlieue, explore the tensions between first-generation North African immigrants and their marginalized beur children. His 100% arabica (1997), which features the raï music stars Khaled and Cheb Mami, critiques both Islamic fundamentalism and French treatment of the beur community. He also directed Prends 10.000 balles et casse-toi (1982), which explores the absurdity of the French "repatriation" incentive. His other films include Les folles années du twist (1986), De Hollywood à Tamanrasset (1990), L'honneur de la tribu (1993), and Beur blanc rouge (2005). He worked as an actor in Claude Berri's Tchao Pantin (1983), Gérard Jugnot's Pinot simple flic (1984), Jean-Loup Hubert's La Smala (1984), Bernard Nauer's Nuit d'ivresse (1986), L'Oeil au beur(re) noir (1987), Philipe Galland's La Thune (1991), Cheikh Doukouré's Blanc d'ébène (1992), Malik Chibane's Hexagone (1993), and his own L'honneur de la tribu and 100% arabica.

   Historical Dictionary of French Cinema by Dayna Oscherwitz & Mary Ellen Higgins