Papicha
A young Algerian fashion student turns a defiant campus runway show into an act of collective resistance against terrorist repression.
Overview
A bold fashion student defies oppression in a turbulent time, uniting women through creativity and courage.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- urgent
- intimate
- angry
- political cinema night
- international film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's urgent feminist perspective, lead performance, and depiction of friendship under political terror, while finding its drama occasionally conventional.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Nedjma's fashion show directly challenges rules governing women's clothing, movement, and visibility.
Nedjma uses design and a campus fashion event to defy extremist prohibitions.
The story unfolds in Algiers during the 1997 period of terrorist violence and social repression.
Nedjma organizes her fellow students as women face escalating threats in public and private spaces.
Films like Papicha, and why
The Breadwinner
shared feminist resistance, political oppression, female friendship, and emotionally charged historical drama
Persepolis
shared focus on young women confronting patriarchal violence through solidarity and self-expression
The Silences of the Palace
shared North African setting, political repression, female-centered storytelling, and urgent social realism
Movie Details
- Director
- Mounia Meddour
- Release Date
- 2019-10-09
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (282)
Cast
- Lyna Khoudri
- Shirine Boutella
- Amira Hilda Douaouda
- Nadia Kaci
- Yasin Houicha
- Zahra Doumandji
- Aida Guechoud
- Meriem Medjkane
- Marwan Zeghbib
- Samir Elhakim
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Philo, OVID, Fandor Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Papicha about?
- A young Algerian fashion student turns a defiant campus runway show into an act of collective resistance against terrorist repression.
- What is Papicha like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Papicha as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Papicha violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Papicha as brutal.
- What did critics think of Papicha?
- Critics broadly praised the film's urgent feminist perspective, lead performance, and depiction of friendship under political terror, while finding its drama occasionally conventional.
- Which films are like Papicha?
- Films with a similar feel include The Breadwinner, Persepolis, and The Silences of the Palace.
- How long is Papicha?
- Papicha runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch Papicha?
- In United States, Papicha streams on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, OVID, Fandor Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
