Rachid Bouchareb Reveals 'Reggane,' a Drama Set in Algeria about France's Nuclear Tests: 'My Goal is to Shed Light on This' (EXCLUSIVE)

Franco-Algerian filmmaker Rachid Bouchareb, known for his Oscar-nominated work Days of Glory, is developing a new feature film titled Reggane. The story is set against the backdrop of Frances initial nuclear tests in the Algerian Sahara, a largely overlooked chapter of colonial history that Bouchareb has been investigating for years.

Speaking exclusively at the Red Sea Film Festival, where he was honored for his contributions to cinema, Bouchareb explained that Reggane builds on his earlier short documentary Boomerang Atomic, which traced Frances nuclear activities using archival footage. The documentary, which premiered out of competition in Venice, laid the groundwork for his upcoming fictional narrative.

Examining archives from the Ministry of Defense, the National Audiovisual Institute, and private collections helped me interpret the images and prepare for writing the feature, Bouchareb said. Set in 1960, during Frances first nuclear test near the town of Reggane, the film follows a young Algerian shepherd whose livestock is seized by the French army, forcing him to join life on the military base. The story portrays the intersection of Algerian workers, nomadic Tuareg communities, and French personnel through the eyes of the shepherd.

What struck me was the absence of Algerians in the archival images, even though thousands worked on the base. Fiction allows me to fill that void, Bouchareb added. His work has consistently aimed to shed light on hidden or neglected histories, from Days of Glory, which influenced pension restoration for colonial soldiers, to Outside the Law and London River.

The film also addresses the lasting impact of radioactive contamination, which independent studies suggest could endure for millennia. Currently in pre-production, filming is planned for southern Algeria starting in September 2026. While the original test site is restricted, the production will reconstruct the military base with additional visual effects, shooting across Timimoun and Tamanrasset in the Sahara.

Bouchareb intends to shoot in 65mm to capture the vastness and beauty of the desert, emphasizing both artistic quality and scale. Despite logistical challenges such as transporting equipment to remote locations, the project has full support from the Algerian Ministry of Culture and aligns with ongoing diplomatic discussions between France and Algeria.

The cast will include Sami Bouajila, a frequent collaborator, alongside locally cast Algerian actors. Financing comes from Algeria, Belgium (Umedia), and Italy (Urania Pictures), with potential U.S. involvement under discussion. Production will be managed by Boucharebs Paris-based 3B Productions, proceeding outside Frances CNC framework to maintain flexibility in language and creative control.

Reflecting on his career-long themes of history and memory, Bouchareb stated, Colonization was built on lies. My goal is to reveal those untold stories, to uncover truths never recorded or shared by those who lived them.

Author: Logan Reeves