Kadour Naimi

Biography

Naimi is the son of a shoemaker father and a housewife mother. He graduated from a double high school course in French and Arabic. After graduation, he attended the University of Oran, where he earned a double certificate of general literary studies in French and in Arabic (1965-1966). Naimi gained entry to the Ecole supérieure d'Art dramatique of Strasbourg, then was directed by Hubert Gignoux and Pierre Lefèvre (1966 – 1968) where he studies staging and dramaturgy. Back in Algeria, he became known in the theatrical field.

At the end of 1973, he emigrated to Belgium. In the Université catholique de Louvain (1974 – 1979) he obtained a degree in sociology, then started a PhD in sociology of the revolutions (1979 – 1982).

Interested by the cinema, he emigrated in 1982 to Italy, acquired citizenship, and is involved in films, theater and literature.

Theater

In August 1968 in Oran (Algeria), he created and directed the Théâtre de la mer : Compagnie de recherches et de réalisations théâtrales expérimentales (Theatre of the Sea : Research and experimental theatre productions Company). The works have particularly innovative features in the Algerian cultural context: independent production, ethical and political freedom, self-management, collective creation, research and experimentation, popular theatre, and unconventional places of performances (places of work, study or neighborhood squares).

The basic principle for the presentation of the shows followed the Algerian traditional rite of "Halga"( حلق): (schema: point 1: acting space; point 2: entry and exit of the actors; point 3: space reserved for spectators). The works are presented also in rural areas, to a farmers audience who has never seen this kind of show. The public is urged by different ways : see the rehearsals and make observations, take action during the show itself, as an integral part of the action

The theatrical writing is in the form of screenplay and the performance is similar to the movie style.

The works are produced in different countries :

Algeria (Tlemcen): Le Cireur (The shoeshine, 1965), writing, directing and interpretation.

France (Strasbourg) : foundation of Ensemble théâtral du Tiers-Monde (Theater group of the Third-World), composed of students (1967), Chant funèbre pour l'ennemi du genre humain (Dirge for the enemy of mankind, 1967) production, writing, directing and interpretation, L'importance d’être d'accord (The Importance of the Agreement, 1968) by B. Brecht, adaptation, directing and interpretation ;

Algeria (Oran and Algiers) : works collectively produced and written in the Théâtre de la Mer (Theater of the Sea) founded and directed by Naimi : Mon corps, ta voix et sa pensée (My body, your voice and his thought, end of 1968), La Valeur de l'Accord (The Value of the Agreement, 1969) Forma – Révolu / tion (Form-Revolu/tion, 1970), La Fourmi et l’Éléphant (The ant and the Elephant, 1971), Mohamed, prends ta valise (Mohamed, take your bag, 1972), written collectively under the direction of Kateb Yacine. Because of disagreements with this author, Naimi resigns from the company.

Tunisia (Hammamet) : Et à l'aurore, où est l'espoir ? (And at dawn, where is the hope ?, 1973), production, directing and interpretation ;

Belgium (Bruxelles) : Palestine (Palestina, 1974), production, writing, directing and interpretation  ;

Italy : I Canti di Maldoror (Les Chants de Maldoror), 1984 : adaptation of the book of Lautréamont, production, coreography and directing ; Parto senza bagagli (I go without luggage), 1995, by F. Bagagli e M. Mirojrie ; Anno Zero (Year Zero), 1996 : producing, writing and directing ;

Algeria (Béjaïa) : Alhanana, ya ouled ! (The Tenderness, guys !), writing, choreography and direction, production of the International Festival of Theatre of Béjaïa.

The press emphasizes the originality of the innovations and the shock they produce in a part of the public: Mon corps, ta voix et sa pensée (My body, your voice and his thought), La Valeur de l'Accord (The value of the Agreement), La Fourmi et l'Éléphant (The Ant and the Elephant), La tendresse, les enfants ! (The Tenderness, guys!). Ould Abderrahman dit Kaki appreciates the experience, also essayists and historians. In 1973, the work Et à l'aurore où est l'espoir ? (And at dawn where is the Hope ?) receives Research Prize at the International Festival of Hammamet (Tunisia). In 2012, the Algerian Ministry of Culture makes official tribute to the man of the theatre for its production.

Some of his theatrical innovations have influence. They are similarities between the theatrr of Naimi and that produced by two men of Algerian theatre: the first, Kateb Yacine, in playwriting and directing ; the second, Abdelkader Alloula, in the following fields : collective creation, circular space, experimentation, type of public and places of representations, audience participation, decor and suggestion, body, voice and mind, self-management, research and training, importance of Bertolt Brecht and of Erwin Piscator

Film work

In 1986, in Rome, Naimi creates the production and distribution company Maldoror Film , and directs until its closure in September 2009. Excluding the first short film, made in 1981, the company produces the other films and documentaries of the film maker. He makes production, writing, shooting, lighting, editing and directing, including the poster. Exceptionally, he has collaborators as co-workers or co-producer.

Marco detto Barabba (Marc called Barabbas), fiction (1981) ; Arancia blu (Blu Orange), documentary (1985), Anima near (Black Soul), documentary (1986), Festa a Villa Gordiani (Feast at Villa Gordiani), documentary (1989), Anno Zero (Year Zero), documentary (1990), Ieri, Oggi, Domani (Yesterday, Today Tomorrow), documentary (1992) ; Maldoror, fiction, adaptation of the work Les Chants de Maldoror by Lautréamont (1997) ; Dove il Sogno diventà Realtà (Where the Dream becomes Reality), documentary (1999) ; Piazza del Mondo (Square World), documentary (2003) ; Jesce Sole : Frammenti di vite frammentate, (Rise up, Sun : Fragments of fragmented lives), fiction (2006) ; La réalisation de Alhanana, ya ouled ! (The realisation of The Tenderness, guys !), documentary (2012) ; 莺歌燕舞 (Yīng gē yàn wǔ – The Oriole sings, the Swallow dances), documentary, presented in September 2014 to Portobello Film Festival in London

About the contents and forms, these works are produced as independent cinema, or even "guerrilla" cinema, no institutional financial support or private, with a minimum crew and limited economic resources. Shooting are made digitally, with the exception of the first short-footage, Marco detto Barabba (Marco called Barabbas), shot in 16mm colour. The presentation was mainly in places outside the commercial circuit.

Other work

In 1986, Naimi creates in Rome (Italy) the School of Maldoror Film. He directs et teaches until its closure in 2009. In 2006, he creates and directs in Rome the International Free Cinema Festival. There are three editions (2006 à 2008). He presents and directs a weekly television broadcast on Tele-Lazio (January–June 1995). Entitled Cittadini del Mondo ( Citizens of the world), It presents the public with Italian artists and intellectuals from other countries, particularly sensitive to the international dimension and solidarity of their work.

Naimi played roles in various fields. Theatre : Bilal : protagonist (1964), Le cireur (The shoe polish, protagonist, 1965), Mon corps, ta voix et sa pensée (My body, your voice and his thought, co-protagonist, 1968), La Valeur de l'accord (The value of the Agreement, co-protagonist, 1969). Television : series Don Matteo, episode Donne e buoi dai paesi tuoi (Women and oxen from your own), directed by Andrea Barzini (co-protagonist with Terence Hill, 2001), Butta la luna (Throw the moon), by Vittorio Sindoni (secondary character, 2006), Capitano 2 (Captain 2), by Vittorio Sindoni (secondary character, 2007).

Cinema : La Poussette (The Stroller), by Aziz Benmahjoub (protagonist, 1974), Senza Parole (Without Words), by Antonnello De Leo (secondary character, 1995), best short fiction of the 69th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

Radio : Le retour au désert (The return in the desert), by Bernard-Marie Koltès, directed by Elio De Capitani (2004).

Literature

Short Novel :

Poetry :

Short Novel :

Poetry : singular poems :

Books :