Messali Hadj - A Life In Service To The Algerian People

This documentary follows the life of Messali Hadj, an internationalist politician who spent decades advocating for the independence of Algeria. Starting with his demands for sovereignty in 1927, the film tracks his leadership through several political organizations, including the North African Star, the Algerian People's Party, the Movement for the Triumph of Democratic Liberties, and the Algerian National Movement. It also details the creation of early political flags, including one sewn by his wife, Emilie Busquant-Messali, which served as a precursor to the current national flag of Algeria.

Directed by Benny Malapa, the film was released in 2006. Malapa also co-wrote the screenplay with Jean-Marc Schiappa. The production features archive footage of Messali Hadj, Emilie Busquant, Djanina Messali-Benkelfat, and Léon Blum, alongside contributions from historian Jean-Marc Schiappa and activist Mustapha Ben Mohamed. The movie features a credited cast of 26 people and has a runtime of 68 minutes. Produced in France, this historical work documents the political activism of a key figure in the Algerian independence movement.