Director Mounia Medour, whose debut feature film “Papicha” was released at the Cannes Film Festival and won two awards at the 2020 César Awards, has assembled a diverse female cast for her next film “Malika,” which tells the true story of Malika Belaribi. Belarbi, an Algerian-French woman who grew up in the projects of Paris, overcame her trauma and eventually realized her dream of becoming a famous lyrical singer.
Liliya Adad, who was a finalist on “The Voice” in 2018 and starred in the popular French musical “Starmania” in 2023, will play the lead role in “Marika.” She co-stars with Zylberstein (I’ve Always Loved You), Azabal (Incendies), Camille Razat (Emily in Paris) and Jebril Tsonga (Les Misérables). Filming will begin on location in the Paris region on November 21st.
Director Médour told Variety that the film follows Belaribi, who grew up in an underprivileged Algerian immigrant family on the outskirts of Nanterre and was abandoned by her parents after being seriously injured in an accident. Forced to spend years lying in a hospital bed and undergoing rehabilitation, Bellarivi, with the help of an unconventional professor (played by Zylberstein), is able to heal himself with music and singing. Ms. Bellarivi’s determination led her to Teatro alla Scala in Milan. She also received the prestigious Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters award from the French government in 2012.
“We want Marika to be a powerful, immersive biopic that focuses on themes of recovery, identity, and the redemptive power of art,” said Médor, adding that the film will also explore the experiences of Algerian immigrants and racism in France in the 1960s and 1990s.
Director Medor also said that he wanted to avoid traditional biopic aesthetics, using intense close-ups and complex sound design to emphasize “Malika’s” emotional conflict and ultimate rebirth.
Marika, co-written by Joan Giger, shares some of the same themes as Medour’s previous two films, Furia and Papicha, which revolve around strong-willed female characters fighting for survival and freedom. “Papicha” is set in Algeria and follows a rebellious young woman who refuses to give in to fundamentalism. Meanwhile, “Fulia” was the story of a young woman who is passionate about ballet dancing and survives a violent attack. Both films starred Lina Kudri.
Medour is producing Marika through his newly launched production banner, Jade Films, along with Apache Film’s Fanny Peyou and Hi Sea Productions’ Patrick Andre.
This project marks Medor’s first time working with Zylberstein and Azabal, both established and critically acclaimed actors. Zilberstein is best known for her roles in “I Love You” and the Simone Weil biopic “Simone,” and she also stars in the comedy “C’etait mieux demain,” currently playing in French theaters. Azabal, who co-starred with Zylberstein in “Simone,” broke out internationally in Denis Villeneuve’s “Incendies,” and recently starred in “Blue Kaftan,” which represented Morocco at the 2023 Oscars, and Mareike Engelhard’s “Labia.”
