Marie-Castille Mentio-Schaar's film "Divertimento" was released on Wednesday 25 January in France. It is named after the symphony orchestra founded in 1998 by Zahia Ziouani and in residence since 2005 in Stains, a city near Paris, where Zahia Ziouani grew up with her parents and her twin sister.
Synopsis: at 17, Zahia Ziouani dreams of becoming a conductor. Her twin sister, Fettouma, is a professional cellist. Lulled by classical symphonic music since their childhood, they wish in turn to make it accessible to all and in all territories. So how can one accomplish such ambitious dreams in 1995 when one is a woman, of Algerian origin and from the suburbs?Zahia Ziouani did it, with determination, passion, courage. Her ambition was at the basis of an incredible project: creating an orchestra. She did and it is called "Divertimento".
"I didn't want the film to be a succession of stereotypes, but to show that classical music can be experienced differently from the usual path and that it has its place in a working-class environment" - Zahia Ziouani, who was involved in the making of the film.
To play Zahia Ziouani, Oulaya Amamra (awarded the César of the Best Female Hopeful for the film "Divines" in 2017), attended masterclasses with her. Oulaya Amamra interprets the exceptional journey of this woman, Zahia Ziouani, who has managed to impose herself in an elitist and male environment.