Need a building permit? Feeling lonely tonight? Call the national benefactress, Madame Aldjeria - she has the answer. When it comes to surviving in today's Algeria, no scam is too daunting for the woman who has adopted her country's name. If they're pretty and lacking in principles, her recruits can make a career for themselves. The latest of these, Paloma, is quite a hit, especially with Riyad, Madame Aldjeria's son. But the purchase of Caracalla Springs, the dream that should allow Aldjeria's clan to start a new life, proves to be one scam too many.

Algeria, 2007 / Nadir Mokneshe
128 mins