Le Doigt dans l'engrenage

Le Doigt dans l'engrenage
Le Doigt dans l'engrenage
	Poster of the film The Finger in the Gear
	Le Doigt dans l'engrenage
Directed by	Ahmed Rachedi
Written by	Rachid Boudjedra
Starring	Brahim Hadjadj
Release date	1974;
Running time	90 minutes
Countries	Algeria; France
Language	French

Last updated January 05, 2026

Le Doigt dans l'engrenage (The Finger in the Gear)is an Algerian film directed by Ahmed Rachedi in 1974, from a screenplay by Rachid Boudjedra. The film was shot in France. Through archival footage and interviews, the film retraces the journey of an Algerian activist living in Paris.^[1]

Synopsis

The film follows the arrival of an Algerian immigrant worker who gets lost in the Paris metro. The narrative blends fiction and archival footage to reflect the contrasts and living conditions of immigrants in France.^[2]

Technical details

Title: Le Doigt dans l'engrenage
Director: Ahmed Rachedi ^[3]
Screenplay: Rachid Boudjedra ^[1]
Country: Algeria (filmed in France)^[4]
Year: 1974^[5]
Running time: 90 minutes^[6]

Cast

Brahim Hadjadj

Production and development

The film was directed by Ahmed Rachedi from a screenplay written by novelist and screenwriter Rachid Boudjedra. It is a hybrid work combining fiction and documentary elements, centered on the experience of Algerian migrant workers in Europe.^[7]

Themes

The film addresses immigration, urban isolation, and the working-class condition of immigrant laborers, combining fiction with documentary materials such as testimonies and archival footage. It is part of a 1970s Algerian and Maghrebi cinematic movement that merged political reflection with a documentary aesthetic.^[8]

References

1 2 "Le Doigt Dans L'Engrenage (fiche)". Africultures. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
↑ "Le Doigt Dans L'Engrenage — synopsis". Allociné. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
↑ "Ahmed Bedjaoui et Michel Serceau - Les cinemas arabes et la litterature". Google book. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
↑ "Présidence : Ahmed Rachedi, nouveau conseiller de Tebboune". algerie360. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
↑ "Le Doigt Dans L'Engrenage — technical details". IMDb. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
↑ "Le Doigt Dans L'Engrenage — technical specs". IMDb. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
↑ "Postcolonial Images: Studies in North African Film". Google books. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
↑ "Le Doigt Dans L'Engrenage — thematic overview". Africiné. Retrieved 24 September 2025.