The Last Queen

Set in 1516, this historical drama focuses on the struggle for power in Algiers. After the pirate Aruj Barbarossa arrives to liberate the city from Spanish rule, he seizes control of the kingdom. Following the death of King Salim Toumi under suspicious circumstances, the king's widow, Queen Zaphira, resists the pirate's tyranny. The story follows Zaphira as she navigates political turmoil and personal conflict to protect her community from Barbarossa's ambitions.

The film was co-directed by Damien Ounouri and Adila Bendimerad, who also co-wrote the screenplay. Adila Bendimerad stars as Queen Zaphira, appearing alongside Dali Benssalah as Aruj Barbarossa and Mohamed Tahar Zaoui as King Salim Toumi. The production was a multi-national effort involving companies from Algeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and France.

Released in April 2023, the movie has received generally positive feedback from viewers. It holds a rating of 6.4/10 on IMDb based on 1,400 votes and a 6.5/10 on TMDB from 35 votes.