8 months ago
U.S. and Japanese Producers Eye Bouchareb’s Nuclear Test Drama
Rachid Bouchareb is making a movie called 'Reggane' about France’s nuclear tests in the Sahara Desert in the 1960s.
The film will show how these tests affected the people living there, especially the Algerians.
Two companies, Cohen Media Group from the U.S. and Kingyo Films from Japan and Singapore, are talking about helping to make this movie.
The director wants to shoot the film in Algeria to make it as realistic as possible.
He has already made a short documentary about the topic and has support from the Algerian government for the film.
The movie will tell the story through the eyes of a shepherd whose goats are used in the nuclear tests.
Rachid Bouchareb's film 'Reggane' explores France's nuclear tests in Algeria's Sahara Desert in the early 1960s.
Cohen Media Group and Kingyo Films are in talks to produce the film, which is planned to shoot in 2026.
The film will be shot in Arabic and will focus on the Algerian perspective, which was undocumented at the time.
Long-time collaborator Sami Bouajila will play a shepherd whose goats are requisitioned by the French army for nuclear research.
Bouchareb has secured support from the Algerian government for logistical and military scene assistance.
- Who
- Rachid Bouchareb, Cohen Media Group, Kingyo Films, Sami Bouajila
- What
- Production talks for the film 'Reggane' about France’s nuclear tests in Algeria
- Where
- Algeria’s Sahara Desert
- When
- Filming planned to start in March 2026
- Why
- To tell the story of France’s nuclear tests and their impact on Algerians
Key facts
- Film Title
- Reggane
- Director
- Rachid Bouchareb
- Setting
- Algeria’s Sahara Desert
- Time Period
- Early 1960s
- Production Companies in Talks
- Cohen Media Group, Kingyo Films
- Lead Actor
- Sami Bouajila
- Planned Filming Location
- Algerian Sahara
- Planned Filming Start Date
- March 2026
Quotes
Rachid Bouchareb
French-Algerian film director known for films like Days of Glory and Outside the Law.
“"The big lie was that the Sahara is empty, that no-one lives there. I know this desert, and it has inhabitants, the Tuaregs, nomads, it’s a living place."”
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“"These shepherds were the first real cowboys."”
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