143 Sahara Street

In the middle of the Sahara Desert, at the geographic centre of Algeria, Malika lives alone. Nestled amongst the vast expanse of sand and buffeted by harsh winds, she runs a cafe, welcoming weary travellers to stop for an omelette, some tea and to share their stories. People from all walks of life sit with Malika (and her beloved cat, Mimi) to discuss everything and nothing. Religion, the economy, politics, family — Malika listens, interjects and absorbs. But even Malika’s remote kingdom isn’t immune to the march of so-called “progress”: a petrol station is to be built next door. Hassen Ferhani’s warm, crowd-pleasing documentary is a welcome reminder of the need for familiarity and respectful human interaction in a world in a state of flux.