A French climber returns to the Sahara after a decade—what haunts him in those red cliffs?
In the heart of the Hoggar Mountains, Algerian and French climbers meet on the legendary walls of the central Sahara. More than just an ascent, Tissalatine tells the story of an encounter with oneself, with the land, and with history. The film also retraces Thomas Dulac's return, ten years later, to a site he helped to open up. Driven by the profound voice of singer Djam and the vision of director Hamza Mendil, Tissalatine unveils a living, vibrant Sahara, far removed from clichés, in a sweeping epic of adventure, brotherhood, and spiritual elevation.
Cinematography
Drone shots that make the Hoggar look like Mars touched by God
Score
Djam's voice—ancestral, mournful, absolutely devastating
Direction
Mendil refuses exoticism; this is the Sahara as home, not backdrop
Director
Hamza Mendil
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
DZ
