Hassan El-Hassani(1916-1987)

Born in Ksar El Boukhari, Medea state in Algeria as Hassan Bencheikh, he's an Algerian actor and comedian, creator of theater groups, he was also a member of the National Assembly (first term) and received the Medal of resistance. he is considered one of the greatest actors in the history of Algerian cinema , he was known for his numerous skits and plays, in addition to the roles he had in over thirty films, in which he embodied "Boubagra" representing a naive peasant, but full of good sense and wisdom to face staggering socioeconomic changes. From a very early age, he wanted to get into the art. The chance came in 1940 during the passage of the cast of Mahieddine Bachtarzi in the region of Berrouaghia, Medea. The enthusiasm and encouragement of Bachtarzi helped Hassan El Hassani to write his first play: "Hassan's dreams", a satire denouncing French colonialism. The ideas of the play led the author to prison. It was May 8, 1945, a milestone in the history of Algeria. In prison, he created many sketches to boost morale of the prisoners. Released after the end of World War II, he moved to the Casbah of Algiers where he worked as a barber, but didn't abandon theater. He created the character of "Nai'naa" in theater play "El-Houria" which became, in 1950, "the plot" then "tigoule O ti ghoul pas." After the dissolution of the troupe, he was hired in 1953 on television where he played under the leadership of Mustapha Badie, his first drama entitled "La Poursuite" (Pursuing). With the outbreak of the Algerian war for independence, he was totally committed to the fight. In 1968, he joined the cast of the Algerian National Theatre. The actor then abandoned his favorite character "Nai'naa" for another even more significant, "Boubagra" a naive peasant facing modern life. The actor continued his theatrical activity, the "four seasons theater troupe", and went on a tour in the Algeria for ten years. In 1976, and after he was elected to the National People's Congress, the company is dissolved. Since independence, the name Hassan Hassani was featured in the credits of many television and film productions. the most known of them the 2 Oscars winner film Z (1969) and Chronicle of the Years of Fire (1975) the Palme d'Or winner in 1975's Cannes Film Festival.