''What the Day Owes the Night'' (french: Ce que le jour doit à la nuit) is a 2012 French romantic

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

film based on the novel of the same name by

Yasmina Khadra Mohammed Moulessehoul ( ar, محمد مولسهول; born January 10, 1955), better known by the pen name Yasmina Khadra ( ar, ياسمينة خضراء), is an Algerian author living in France, who writes in French. One of the most famous Algeri ...

. It was directed and produced by

Alexandre Arcady Alexandre Arcady (born 17 March 1947) is a French actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Life and career Alexandre Arcady was born in Algiers, Algeria. He emigrated to France at the age of fifteen. His son is filmmaker Alexandre Aja. ...

, who also wrote the screenplay with Blandine Stintzy and Daniel Saint-Hamont.

Plot

The film looks over the life of a young man, Younes, from his childhood in

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

in the 1930s to nowadays. The story goes over the tragedies that occurred in his country like the battle of Mers El-Kebir and the

Algerian War The Algerian War, also known as the Algerian Revolution or the Algerian War of Independence,( ar, الثورة الجزائرية '; '' ber, Tagrawla Tadzayrit''; french: Guerre d'Algérie or ') and sometimes in Algeria as the War of 1 November ...

but also the love story of Emilie and Younes. Younes's family owns a wheat field in the countryside next to

Oran Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...

, expecting an abundant harvest. Unfortunately, the field is set on fire by the Cheikh henchmen, to whom the family owes money. Unable to pay the debt, the family is expropriated by the colonial administration to the benefit of the Cheikh whose first goal was to get the family's land. Now ruined and without any money, they move to the nearest city,

, where Issa, Younes's father, works difficult jobs for a pittance. Physically and psychologically worn, Issa is resigned to give his son away to Mohamed, his elder pharmacist brother, to whom he didn't speak for a long time because Mohamed married a

pied-noir The ''Pieds-Noirs'' (; ; ''Pied-Noir''), are the people of French people, French and other White Africans of European ancestry, European descent who were born in Algeria during the French Algeria, period of French rule from 1830 to 1962; the v ...

piano teacher named Madeleine. Renamed Jonas by Madeleine, Younes is warmly hosted in his new and only family after the death of his sister and mother during the battle of Mers El-Kebir, and the disappearance of his father, sunk into alcoholism. Madeleine couldn't have children with Mohamed so she considers Younes as her own child, educates him and lets him attend piano lessons. That's how he meets Emilie, a young girl from

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

whose parents came to live in Algeria and begins a friendship with her. Spotted because of his political positions, Mohamed is harassed by the French police. To escape from it, Mohamed decides to leave

with his family. They settle in a little town called Rio Salado inhabited by a large population of

pieds-noirs The ''Pieds-Noirs'' (; ; ''Pied-Noir''), are the people of French and other European descent who were born in Algeria during the period of French rule from 1830 to 1962; the vast majority of whom departed for mainland France as soon as Alger ...

from Spanish backgrounds for the majority. The family builds a new life and Jonas meets new friends, three children of this community, Jean-Christophe, Fabrice and Simon. Many years passed and nothing changed in Rio Salado until the arrival of Emilie.

Cast

* Fu'ad Aït Aattou as Younès/Jonas *

Nora Arnezeder Nora Arnezeder (born 8 May 1989) is a French actress and singer. The recipient of a Lumières Award, she is an accomplished actress in the French film industry. Early life Arnezeder was born in Paris, France. Her father Wolfgang Arnezeder is Au ...

as Émilie Cazenave *

Anne Parillaud Anne Parillaud (; born 6 May 1960) is a French actress who has been active since 1977. She is best known internationally for playing the title character in Luc Besson's film '' La Femme Nikita''. Biography Parillaud was born in Paris. While in ...

as Madame Cazenave *

Vincent Pérez Vincent Perez (born 10 June 1964) is a Swiss actor, director and photographer. He played the title character, Ashe Corven, in '' The Crow: City of Angels'', and starred in ''Queen of the Damned'', playing Marius de Romanus. Some of his films in ...

as Juan Rucillio *

Fellag Mohamed Fellag (born 31 March 1950 in Azeffoun, Tizi Ouzou) is an Algerian comedian, writer, humorist, and actor. In 1958, at the height of the Algerian war of independence, his father took him and his younger brother, for their safety, to stay w ...

as Mohamed *

Anne Consigny Anne Consigny (; born 25 May 1963) is a French actress who has been active since 1981. She received a César Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in the film '' Not Here to Be Loved'' (2005). She is also known for her role as Claude in ...

as Madeleine *

Nicolas Giraud Nicolas Giraud (born 12 November 1978) is a French actor and filmmaker. Among the various films roles in which he has appeared in, he was one of the kidnappers in the 2008 film '' Taken''. He is the writer, director and editor of the short film ' ...

as Fabrice *

Matthias Van Khache Matthias is a name derived from the Greek Ματθαίος, in origin similar to Matthew. People Notable people named Matthias include the following: In religion: * Saint Matthias, chosen as an apostle in Acts 1:21–26 to replace Judas Iscariot * ...

as Simon/Adult Michel (Simon's son) * as Jean-Christophe *

Matthieu Boujenah Matthieu Boujenah (born 23 June 1976 in Bagneux, Hauts-de-Seine, Paris) is a French comedian and actor. He is the nephew of Michel Boujenah and Paul Boujenah Paul Boujenah, is a French-Tunisian film director. He is the brother of Michel ...

as André (Dédé) *

Marine Vacth Marine Vacth (born 9 April 1991) is a French actress and model. Life and career Vacth was born on 9 April 1991 in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. She grew up in the Paris suburb of Maisons-Alfort. Her father is a truck driver and her mother an ...

as Isabelle Rucillio (adult) *

Salim Kechiouche Salim Kechiouche (born 2 April 1979) is a French actor. Early life He was born to Algerian parents. While 15 years old, he was first discovered by French actor director Gaël Morel. Morel gave him his first role in a feature film, '' À Toute ...

as Djelloul *

Iyad Bouchi Iyad may refer to: *Iyad (tribe), Arab tribe, 3rd–7th centuries *Iyad Jamal Al-Din (born 1961), prominent Iraqi intellectual, politician and religious cleric * Iyad Al-Khatib, Jordanian football player * Abdallah Iyad Barghouti (born 1979), Palest ...

as Younes (child) *

Jean-François Poron Jean-François Poron (6 May 1936 – 3 September 2020) was a French actor and director. Biography Poron began training as an actor at Cours Simon in Paris. On 12 August 1968, he lost control of his Porsche on Route nationale 20 near Angerville. ...

as Younes (aged 70) *

Tayeb Belmihoub Tayeb may refer to: People ; Given name *Tayeb Abdallah (died 2007), former Sudanese president of the Sudanese football (soccer) club Al-Hilal *Tayeb Belaiz (born 1948), Algerian jurist and politician * Tayeb Berramla (born 1985), Algerian football ...

as Issa

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 1934205 2012 romantic drama films 2012 films French romantic drama films Films based on Algerian novels Films directed by Alexandre Arcady 2010s French-language films 2010s French films