Chaabi music rose out of the streets of the Casbah district of city of Algiers in the first part of the century. Popular in the actual sense of the word (Chaabi means ‘people’), it united the inhabitants of the city, no matter their beliefs or background – the Chaabi bands consisted of Muslim, Jewish and Christian members. The music was very much a part of street culture until finally fading out during the revolution that split the country and resulted in a mass exodus to France by many French-Algerians. Told through the remaining members of the Chaabi music movement, EL GUSTO becomes more than an exploration of the music, but also a discovery of the city of Algiers.

Director Safinez Bousbia also becomes a part of the story, never shying away from, nor trying to hide the presence of the camera. In this way, the story feels personal, as if the audience were walking beside Bousbia on her journey. If anything, the only element that might have been better explored was the music itself, perhaps using comparisons and how it differed, technically, from other genres at the time, and therefore how it rose to such prominence.

“… the story feels personal, as if the audience were walking beside Bousbia on her journey…”

The title literally translates to ‘The Good Mood’, which is perfectly suited to a film with such energy and spirit in the characters portrayed, their playful renditions and nostalgic stories, and also the fantastic filmmaking, our view gliding through the streets of the city or views it from above; the camera always in motion, like the music that clearly inhabits the same streets, memories and lives of the subjects. Through the music one can tell the love that these people have for the city, which is the essence of the film.

EL GUSTO is screening at 5.45pm on Sunday 23rd September at the Cambridge Film Festival.

httpvh://youtu.be/GowQhXUSqKE