Christopher Nolan criticized in Algeria for the shooting of “L’Odyssée”, his last film, in Western Sahara

Universal Studios

Matt Damon, here in “The Odyssey” by Chrisopher Nolan.

MOVIE THEATER – Odyssey d’Ulysse (and Christopher Nolan) comes up against galleys. Similarly, As the Guardianthis Monday. Consequently, July 28, the organizers of the Fisahara, the Sahara International Film Festival, are standing against the British-American director, which they urge to stop the production of his new blockbuster, being filmed in Western Sahara.

The city of Dakhla (where filming is held) ” is not only a beautiful place with sand dunes worthy of the cinemaestimates the director of the María Carrión festival. In addition, in a press release published during the month. Therefore, It is above all an occupied. Meanwhile, militarized city whose Aboriginal christopher nolan criticized algeria shooting Sahrawi population is subject to brutal repression on the part of the Moroccan occupation forces. »

She specifies: ” By filming a part of Odyssey In an occupied territory classified as “journalistic desert” by reporters Without Borders. For example, Christopher Nolan and his team contribute, perhaps involuntarily and unwittingly, to the repression of the Saharawi people by Morocco and to the efforts of the Moroccan regime to normalize its occupation of Western Sahara. »

The situation in western Sahara – Christopher nolan criticized algeria shooting

Former Spanish colony until 1975. Meanwhile, Western Sahara was mainly controlled by Morocco, but still remains considered as a non -autonomous territory by the United Nations. A conflict has opposed Morocco there for fifty years to the separatists of the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria.

A ceasefire had been concluded there in 1991, and a UN mission called Minurso had to organize a christopher nolan criticized algeria shooting self-determination referendum. He never materialized. Since then. the United Nations regularly calls the different parties to “Take up the negotiations” to achieve a “Sustainable political solution”.

More recently, a proposal for autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty was presented by the Kingdom of Morocco. This was considered serious by several states, including the United Kingdom and Portugal. France had approved it last summer, thus triggering by its rapprochement with Rabat a diplomatic crisis with Algeria.

However, the presence of Morocco in this region of the world is not unanimous, however. As María Carrión pointed out, several NGOs are alarmed by the situation on site. In his latest report. Amnesty International draws up a critical inventory, pointing to the repression of militants denouncing the regime, target journalists, gender inequalities or arbitrary arrests, discrimination and hate crimes against LGBT +people.

Zendaya et Matt Damon au casting

The organizers of the Fisahara see in the shooting authorization granted to Christopher Nolan the two weights. two measures of the authorities. “” The Sahraouis, who try to make films on their lives, are persecuted and must work clandestinely ”they believe. Conversely. ” Morocco only authorizes the entry to Western Sahara occupied than those which correspond to its strategy to sell its occupation in the outside world ”.

The Sahara International Film Festival. which has been organized since the early 2000s in Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria since the early 2000s, wants to cause a start with the director, and prevent him from ” whiten Moroccan policy. Contacted by the Guardianthe latter has not yet reacted or made decision.

The 54 -year -old filmmaker began filming this new superproduction inspired by the famous poem of Homer several months ago. in several places in North Africa and christopher nolan criticized algeria shooting Europe, including Sicily. Expected on our screens for next summer. the film has an audience of the most bankable actors, including Zendaya, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway or Charlize Theron.