Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina, the first Arab and African director to be awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes film festival, passed away at the age of 91, according to his family. He was the oldest living recipient of the Palme d’Or and won the award in 1975 for his film “Chronicle of the Years of Fire,” a historical drama about the Algerian war of independence.
Lakhdar-Hamina’s children reported his death at his home in Algiers, a city he held dear. Born on February 26, 1934, in M’Sila, Algeria, he hailed from the mountainous Aurès region. The son of modest peasants, Lakhdar-Hamina went on to study agriculture before pursuing his passion for filmmaking in Antibes, France.
“Chronicle of the Years of Fire” is a significant work that spans six chapters from 1939 to 1954 and portrays the story of Algeria’s struggle for independence through the eyes of its people. This upheaval was deeply personal for Lakhdar-Hamina, whose father was tortured and killed by the French army during the Algerian War. In response, Lakhdar-Hamina abandoned his position in the French army in 1958 to join the Algerian resistance in Tunis. His journey into filmmaking began with an internship on Tunisian newsreels, eventually leading to the creation of short films.
Lakhdar-Hamina’s enduring impact on cinema is a testament to his dedication to capturing the narratives of those marginalized, particularly during times of conflict and political strife. His work remains an important piece of cinematic history.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/may/28/mohammed-lakhdar-hamina-first-arab-and-african-director-to-win-cannes-palme-dor-dies-91-chronicle-of-the-years-of-fire
