L'autre monde

Ultimately a powerful portrait of the sort of apocalyptic culture clash that is resulting in an increasingly dangerous and fragmented world.

Achieves what Hollywood never quite gets right: a tense and timely thriller that also serves as a political and a moral allegory.

Allouache's script is so packed with incident that the characters have little time for debate, but the tension between fundamentalist and modern morality is woven into the action.

A melodramatic import from Algeria, is so relevant in this age of global terrorism, it's a shame it isn't much better.

Working in broad, often melodramatic strokes, Mr. Allouache paints a deeply pessimistic portrait of his native country.

First hour is an often gripping look at the realities of modern Islam ("You can do anything you want, as long as it's not in public," says a soldier's wife), before silliness takes over.

It's too bad that Allouache's insurgent Islamists, into whose clutches Yasmine falls for a time, come off like Indiana Jones villains.