Contra

An incursion into the illegal world of smugglers in the borderlands between Tunisia, Algeria and Libya: a life choice that isn’t really a choice, which sometimes becomes a necessity, an activity and a daily life on the fringes of the country and society. Khalil Omri, a graduate and former soldier, ends up turning smuggling into his livelihood to support himself and his family.  Following him, we discover the existence and operation of a parallel economy that has become a real way of life for men of all ages from very different backgrounds. Living on a knife edge, with the ever-present risk of being arrested, or even killed, particularly for those taking the most risks, running drugs or guns. Lassaad Hajji manages to penetrate this lawless environment marked by nocturnal desert crossings, merchandise exchanges, arrests by border guards, smugglers lost in the middle of the desert, as well as family meals and secrets about the hope of a better future.

Jasmin Basic