Director: Albert Samama Chikly / Cast: Haydee Samama Chikly / Release Date: 1922-1924 / Tunisia / Length: 60’ / Presentation: Mariann Lewinsky / Musician: Tuncer Duman
Albert Samama Chikly, one of the early filmmakers and a Tunisian photographer, was truly a versatile artist. Views by him reached the present day and reflect Arab geography of the Mediterranean with a tremendous aesthetic: Tunisia views recorded on a balloon flight, rural workers on duty, fishermen’s labor, Bedouin lands lying the south of the country... The Mediterranean appears as a hectic geography binding many societies, culture, idea and civilizations together. For her contribution in Albert Samama Chickly’s exceptional vision, it is worth mentioning his daughter, Haydee Samama Chikly, who starred in some of his films and wrote screenplays as well. In this collection, we compiled ingeniously experimental and newly restored views recorded by Albert Samama Chikly. You are invited to take a look at Tunisia of the time from a new window by Albert Samama Chikly, who embraced all technological inventions of industrial modernity with a curiosity and fascination.