David Oelhofen, Loins des hommes

About his film being based on a short story by Albert Camus: “In Camus’ ‘Guest’ we have parts in Western style, an escorted prisoners, characteristic desert scenes and the conflict of two different laws. The myth behind Camus’ story is the myth of what Europe did with the colonies - bringing them enlightnement and civilization, which is a corrupt and untrue myth.”

About the Algerian war still being a taboo subject in France : « It is a taboo, but films about that subject are simply not financed by the state. The French don’t like to see films about the war in Algeria. The film shows only the victims of history and its aim is not show the good and the good guys sixty years later. That’s not its role, that is the role of history.”

About the reception of the film in France: “The film was well received in France, but also in Morroco and Algeria. We received a prize in Venice that made me very happy, from a jury of young people consisting of 15 French, 15 Morrocans and 15 Tunisians. That’s great, since I didn’t want the film to result in a sterile discussion.”

About the lead actors in the film: “I am someone who gives a lot of space to actors, especially when they are Vigo Mortensen and Reda Kateb. Vigo travelled to Algeria on his own prior to the shoot. Reda went for walks in the desert. We found many of the concepts used in the film together, during the shoot.”