Galway Film Society

The Repentant

In the late 1990s, the Algerian government attempted to end years of terrorism by offering jihadists amnesty. Islamic fighters came down from their hideouts, registered with the authorities as “repentants,” and were integrated into society. Rachid runs away from his fundamentalist compatriots in the mountain and reports to police chief, Redouane. He gets a job with embittered cafe owner Salah and Rachid appears to be fitting into normal life. Then, he meets pharmacist Lakhdar. Rachid’s escape from his Islamist life is real, and his desire for re-entry into society feels genuine. On one level, Rachid really may be sorry for what he did, but can his personality shift following inculcation into the cult of terrorism, be completely buried? All three leads deliver performances of stunning emotional depth and complexity, quietly embodying the conflicts raging within. The Repentant is a beautifully made, deeply emotional drama that catches its troubled protagonists’ lives, all the way to a staggering finale.