TRANSLATING AS “Rocker of the Desert”, La Rockeuse du Désert profiles septuagenarian Hasna El Becharia, Algeria’s first woman to play the guitar-like guembri.
El Becharia is an Gnawa icon who’s devoted her life to empower women of all ages, inspiring them to reclaim a musical tradition historically led by men.
Full of rhythmic music, dazzling desert imagery, archival histories, and interviews with the pioneering guembri-player (see the trailer below), the film is directed by Quebec’s Sara Nacer, who traces her heritage back to Algeria, is in town Sunday at The Cinematheque for a Q&A about the vibrant new documentary. Laura Bustillos Jáquez provides the assured cinematography.
World-music lovers will walk away with a new appreciation for Gnawa music and for a woman who genuinely rocks.
