Hassan El-Hassani
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Hassan El-Hassani (Arabic: حسن الحسني) whose real name was Hassan Bencheikh, was an Algerian comedian. Born on April 24, 1916 at Ksar el Boukhari, near Medea in Algeria, he died September 25, 1987 in Algiers.
Biography
Humorist and actor, militant with his art, popular comedian, creator of theater groups, he was also a member of the National Assembly (first term) and received the Medal of resistance. A popular actor, he was also known for its 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, where he was a hairdresser. The enthusiasm and encouragement of Bachtarzi helped Hassan El Hassani to write his first play: "Hassan's dreams", a satire denouncing colonialism. The ideas of the play led their 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 Na'anaa in theater play "El-houria" which became, in 1950, "the plot" then "tigoule ou 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 Na'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 of Hassan El-Hassani was featured in the credits of many television and film productions.
Filmography
- 1966: "The Winds of the Aures" of Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina
- 1968: "Hassan Terro" of Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina
- 1969: "Z" of Costa-Gavras
- 1969: "L'Opium et le Bâton" of Ahmed Rachedi
- 1970: "Brancaleone Alle Crociate" of Mario Monicelli
- 1971: "Les Aveux Les Plus Doux" of Édouard Molinaro
- 1971: "December" of Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina
- 1972: "Les Bonnes Familles" of Djaffer Damerdji
- 1972: "Sanaoud" of Mohamed Slim Riad
- 1973: "The Holiday of Inspector Tahar" of Moussa Haddad
- 1975: "Chronicle of the Years of Fire" of Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina
- 1975: "Les Nomades" of Sid Ali Mazif
- 1976: "Ech-Chebka" of Ghaouti Bendeddouche
- 1976: "Les Déracinés" of Lamine Merbah
- 1977: "Barrières" of Ahmed Lallem
- 1978: "Le Premier Pas" Of Mohamed Bouamari
- 1982: "The Damned" of El Hadi Guellal
- 1982: "Moissons d'Acier" of Ghaouti Bendaddouche
- 1982: "A wife for my son" of Ali Ghanem
- 1983: "Les Folles Années du Twist" of Mahmoud Zemmouri
- 1983: "Le Moulin" of Ahmed Rachedi
- 1986: "Last picture" of Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina
- 1987: "Les Portes du Silence" of Amar Laskri
Bibliography
Dictionary of Film, Larousse, 2001.