Literary liaisons of iconic North African writers | Al Jazeera World

09/22/21 • 45 min

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While writing is normally a solitary profession, occasionally literary connections between great authors spark fiery, creative tension and sometimes storytelling brilliance.

This film is the tale of two such connections, both in North Africa in the mid-twentieth century.

The first is about the French writer, Jean Genet, and the Moroccan novelist, Mohamed Choukri.

Both were brought up in dysfunctional circumstances, devoid of life’s advantages, but managed to overcome their troubled early lives.

They met in Tangier where both rose to become leading, modern literary figures and lifelong friends.

The second tells the compelling story of the conflicting lives of Nobel laureate Albert Camus and author Kateb Yacine, set against the violent backdrop of the Algerian War of Independence.

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