“Barbès, Little Algérie”: A Generation Caught Between Two Worlds!

“Fianso is dead, long live Sofiane!” In the sparse landscape of summer rap activities, Fianso, the renowned rapper, has officially announced his retirement from the rap scene. While this news is a disappointment for many fans, it’s also a logical step forward. As he was crafting his acclaimed “Blacklist” series, highly praised by industry insiders, Fianso achieved mainstream success with the release of “#JesuispasséchezSo”.

Sofiane Steps Away from Rap: “The King is Dead, Long Live the King!”

He playfully references this transition in his track “Tout le monde s’en fout”, rapping: “Seeing the looks change, I thought that would be the epilogue. It wasn’t measured in years, but in episodes.” Following this, a series of albums were released, from “Bandit Saleté” to “Affranchis”—the latter marking the inception of his label “Affranchis Music”—culminating in “Direction”, a masterpiece visually captured in the “Zidane” music video. With “Je suis passé chez So 2023”, the artist gathered the leading figures of the hip-hop movement, perhaps to sign off with a grand farewell.
During this period, however, he landed a leading role at the Avignon Festival, starring in “Gatsby le Magnifique”. This marked the beginning of his acting career, where he delivered a remarkable performance. Sofiane transitioned from rapper to actor by taking on this iconic role from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American literature, already famously adapted to the silver screen.

The roles continued to pour in for Sofiane Zermani, each more significant than the last. In the Canal+ series “Les Sauvages”, he delivered a nuanced portrayal in a dark political thriller. His 2024 Netflix debut in “Le Salaire de la Peur”, a modern adaptation of the 1953 Cannes award-winning film featuring Yves Montand, showcased his evolving talents. Though much has changed between the 1953 version and today’s, the pervasive fear and tension remain. Just as Ladj Ly reimagined Victor Hugo‘s “Les Misérables” for a new century, “Le Salaire de la Peur” with Sofiane Zermani carries a similar intensity to the classic with Yves Montand.

Ultimately, Sofiane Zermani the actor was born. His role in “Sous Emprise”, where he battles himself in a passionate underwater relationship metaphor, solidified his place as a leading figure on Netflix for several weeks. His next venture will be in the film “Barbès, Little Algérie”, set for release in cinemas on October 16.

“Barbès, Little Algérie”: A Generation Caught Between Two Worlds!

The film is directed by Hassan Guerrar, an experienced filmmaker who has been selected for Cannes with “La Cour des Miracles”, a film that highlights social diversity and the fractures within French society. Guerrar is also known for “Les Meutes” and “Les Pires”, the latter of which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. Blending social commentary with a portrayal of contemporary society, Hassan Guerrar chose Sofiane Zermani for a pivotal role in his latest film.
As the title suggests, “Barbès, Little Algérie” centers on the Parisian neighborhood of Barbès. At a time when gentrification is sweeping the capital and displacing its most vulnerable residents, Barbès stands as a bastion of resistance. Despite the changes, the neighborhood remains vibrant and retains its soul. During the pandemic, Malek, a Frenchman of Algerian descent living in Montmartre, discovers Barbès alongside his cousin, newly arrived from Algeria.

Like many, Malek is torn between two worlds. As rapper Tiers Monde puts it: “Stranger in Normandy, stranger in Saudi”. Many descendants of immigrants feel lost between a homeland that may reject them and their origins that they strive to forget.

In “Barbès, Little Algérie”, Sofiane Zermani’s character, Malek, reconnects with his buried culture and may eventually find reconciliation with his roots. Through this film, Hassan Guerrar offers a heartfelt tribute to one of the most lively and cosmopolitan neighborhoods in Paris, while painting a compelling portrait of Malek, a character with whom many will identify.