The film Louisette gives a voice to the silenced victims of the French army rapes in Algeria

At the beginning of October, the funeral month in memory of the Algerians, The world And The comic magazine unveiled an animated short film illuminating a still taboo part of French history.

Rape as an instrument of torture

Louisette Ighilahriz is Algerian. She has aged 86 years old.

On the eve of Algeria’s independence in 1962, he had done so join the scrubtaking part in the armed struggle in order to resist the French soldiers. Captured by them, Louisette Ighilahriz they suffered their violence, including recurrent rape.

Emphasizing the testimony of this veteran separatist, the film lights up a piece of French history has passed over in silence. The short film says it well: nel Stora report on colonization and the war in Algeria written in 2020 and submitted to Emmanuel Macron, only the rapes committed by the French army are mentionedonce.

Thus, through the story of Madame Ighilahriz, the film reports the silent crimes from many victims and shows that rape was employed as a means of torture.

A great historical testimony

In June 2000, an article published on the front page on World revived Memory of the Algerian war. The article was signed by journalist Florence Beaugé and highlighted the testimony of Louisette Ighilahriz. The latter turned out to have been repeatedly tortured and raped in Algiers forty years earlier, on the premises of 10^And General Massu’s paratrooper division.

The article caused a sensational effect in France, prompting some officials to speak up. General Massu had done it too expressed regret. A first in a context where silence reigns. He then said: “When I think back to Algeria, it saddens me. Torture, which we could very well do without. It was part of a certain atmosphere. We could have done things differently. “

Twenty-two years after, The world And The comic magazine they joined forces to put memories back into focus this great testimony through an animated film Written by journalist Florence Beaugé, directed and drawn by Aurel and starring Françoise Fabian and Bruno Solo, Louisette is available on the website of World.

Featured image credit: © screenshot Le Monde