DIVERTIMENTO

29 May

Written By Theatre Royal Castlemaine

RATING: PG

DURATION: 1:54

DIRECTOR: Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar

STARRING: Oulaya Amamra, Lina El Arabi, Niels Arestrup, Zinedine Soualem, Nadia Kaci, Laurent Cirade

LANGUAGE: French (English subtitles)

Screening Times

Thu 20 Jun - 5:00pm
Fri 21 Jun - 7:30pm
Wed 10 Jul - 5:00pm
Tue 16 Jul - 7:30pm
Wed 17 Jul - 5:00pm
Sun 21 Jul - 4:30pm
Tue 23 Jul - 5:00pm

On the outskirts of Paris, two teenage sisters of Algerian descent face formidable odds as they aspire to break into the exclusive domain of classical symphonic music. This inspiring narrative is based on a true story, centred on renowned conductor Zahia Ziouani and her sister, cellist Fettouma Ziouani. Set in 1995, Divertimento paints a remarkable portrait of these young women defying expectations and overcoming societal barriers.

Zahia and Fettouma's journey transcend their underprivileged beginnings, as they courageously confront chauvinism and other prejudices challenging their passion for classical music. Rather than merely seeking acceptance by the exclusive Parisian classical music scene, the sisters aspire to bring the joys symphonic music to their community. Firmly believing that music should be inclusive and a source of joy and comfort accessible to people from all backgrounds, the Ziouani sisters create an enduring legacy, still resonant today.

This triumphant and heartwarming film offers a glimpse into the origins of their extraordinary journey. Divertimento showcases not only the pursuit of musical excellence but also the resilience and determination needed to redefine the boundaries of privilege, bringing the universal beauty of classical music to communities everywhere.

Theatre Royal Castlemaine