Mohamed Fellag

Mohamed Fellag

Born 1950-03-31 (age 76) Algeria, Azzefoun
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Biography

Mohand Fellag (in Arabic محمد فلاق; in Berber ⴼⴻⵍⵍⴰⴳ), known as Mohamed Fellag or simply "Fellag" or sometimes Mohamed Saïd Fellag, is an Algerian actor, humorist and writer, born March 31, 1950 in Azeffoun in Algeria. Mohamed Fellag (ⴼⴻⵍⵍⴰⴳ in Tifinagh) was born in Azeffoun in Kabylia. He only spoke Kabyle until the family moved to Algiers when he was eight years old. He then learned Algerian Arabic and French.

His father, an FLN activist during the war, was killed in a car accident in 1965 during a mission (he was 15). He studied theater at the National Institute of Dramatic and Choreographic Art of Algiers, located in Bordj el Kiffan, from 1968 to 1972. He left the National Theater and founded his company with former students. They write texts, go on tour, play in prisons, factories, etc. He emigrated to Quebec in 1978, then to Paris in 1982, living from small jobs. In September 1985, he returned to Algeria and was hired by the Algerian National Theater to perform "The Art of Comedy" by Eduardo De Filippo. He worked as an actor and director, and began writing his texts, including his first show, "Les Aventures de Tchop" in 1986. He became a star thanks to performances mixing Berber, Arabic and French.

In 1991, "Babor Australia" was created in Kabyle, then performed in Algerian Arabic in Paris. At the Théâtre de l'Europe in 1992, it was performed alternately in Kabyle and Algerian Arabic. "Babor Australia", updated to "A boat for Australia" in 2002, is based on a rumor, evoking the imminent arrival in Algiers of an Australian boat supposed to take unemployed people to provide them with employment and accommodation there, which caused a queue in front of the Australian embassy.

He directed the Béjaïa theater for a while in 1992-939.

The Algerian Civil War broke out, Fellag went on tour in 1994 with "Babor Australia", in Algeria then in Tunisia. At the end of the year, he settled in Tunis where he created "Delirium". In 1995, he went into exile in Paris. He writes there "Djurdjurassique Bled", which is represented alternately in Kabyle and Algerian Arabic. Then, he adapted it into French and this first show in French, created in December 1997, earned him the 1997-1998 Critics' Union Prize, theatrical revelation of the year.

Fellag lived with the actress Marianne Épin, who died on December 9, 2017, who staged several of his last shows.

Photos

Known For

What the Day Owes the Night
Monsieur Lazhar
Monsieur Lazhar

2011

as Bachir Lazhar

Zarafa
Zarafa

2012

as Mahmoud (voice)

Intimate Enemies
Intimate Enemies

2007

as Fellag

The Rabbi's Cat
The Rabbi's Cat

2011

as Sheik Mohammed Sfar (voice)

Les Barons
Les Barons

2009

as 'R.G.'

The Kid from Chaaba
The Kid from Chaaba

1998

as Bouzid

Michou d'Auber
Michou d'Auber

2007

as Akli

Top Floor Left Wing
Top Floor Left Wing

2010

as Mohand

Inch'Allah dimanche
Inch'Allah dimanche

2001

as Le Pologne

Hassan Niya
Hassan Niya

1989

as Bekane

Il faut sauver Saïd
Il faut sauver Saïd

2008

as La père

Ni reprise, ni échangée
🎦
La Veuve tatouée

2008

as David

Bacon on the Side
Bacon on the Side

2010

as Mahmoud

Sons of the Earth
Liberty at Night
Flowers of Blood
Flowers of Blood

2002

as Ali

From Hollywood to Tamanrasset
Me and El Che
Me and El Che

2018

as The journalist