Before translation, the title of Nadir Moknèche's affecting melodrama Viva Algeria reads "Viva Laldjérie," which blends the French word for Algeria ("Algérie") with the Arabic ("El Djazair"). There's no more concise way to describe the conflicting forces at work in the film, which focuses on three women caught between the rising fundamentalism of the Islamic world and the cosmopolitan modernity of Western cities. It's hard enough for any single woman to feel safe in any urban environment, but in the middle of Algiers, where perceived immorality can have violent repercussions, these women are constantly looking over their shoulders. In many respects, their lifestyles have turned them into prisoners, though they're each rebellious enough to get into trouble anyway.
Keep scrolling for more great stories from A.V. Club.