Watch Until the Birds Return

In the heart of Algeria, Until the Birds Return is an intricately woven tale of love, loss, and self-discovery. The movie follows three interconnected stories, showcasing the personal journeys of the people in different social classes. The first story revolves around a successful physician, Mourad, who is living a life of comfort and luxury. However, he is haunted by the fact that he has led a selfish and vain existence. After the death of his father, he decides to reconnect with his childhood friends and reconcile with his wife. On his journey, he encounters different people that give him insight and wisdom, and soon he finds himself at a crossroads.

The second story follows Dahmane, a young man who is eager to put his rural roots behind him and make it big in the city. He moves to Algiers, where he falls in love with a beautiful woman named Amal. They both dream of a better future, and their relationship blossoms. However, things take an unexpected turn, and Dahmane is forced to make difficult choices to survive in the tough and unforgiving city.

Lastly, the film introduces the story of Rym, a woman who is trapped in a traditional family dynamic. She is engaged to be married to a wealthy businessman, but her heart is captivated by a man from a lower class. Her family's expectations are weighing heavily on her, and she must find the strength to follow her heart and fight against societal pressures.

Through these stories, the film takes a close look at the Algerian identity, and it's a struggle to adapt to a rapidly changing world. The film explores the emotional complexities of characters as they come face to face with their aspirations, relationships, and self-discovery. The film highlights the feeling of confinement in social norms and traditions that prevent individuals from achieving their full potential.

Until the Birds Return is a critically acclaimed film with laudable performances from the cast, particularly Mohamed Djouhri, Hania Amar, and Hassan Kechache. The film's director, Karim Moussaoui, was lauded at several film festivals for his masterful storytelling, which earned him a nomination for the prestigious Un Certain Regard award at the Cannes Film Festival.

The movie's character development is sublime, showcasing the intricate relationships between characters and the world around them. Despite the sombre theme, there is an underlying sense of hope pervading throughout the film, as characters weather the storm and emerge stronger and more resilient than before.

The film's stunning cinematography and visual aesthetics are worth noting as they are breathtaking, beautifully capturing the beauty of contemporary Algeria. The vibrant colour palette creates a stark contrast to the bleakness of the characters' stories, emphasizing the dichotomy between the characters' hopes and fears.

In conclusion, Until the Birds Return is a poignant and visually stunning film that explores the intricacies of human relationships and the challenges of self-discovery in contemporary Algeria. The skilled direction and impeccable performances make this film a gem not to be missed by lovers of nuanced, character-driven dramas.

Until the Birds Return is a 2020 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 53 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 61.