Mohamed Rachid Benhadj (, born 12 July 1949) is an Algerian film director and screenwriter. Life and career Born in Algiers, Benhadj studied architecture and cinema at the University of Paris. He made his professional debut working for the Radiodiffusion Télévision Algérienne as a documentarist. His feature film debut Louss (aka Desert Rose, 1989) received wide critical acclaim. In the 1990s he decided to settle permanently in Italy. Starting from his second film Touchia his films become more socially and politically committed. He is also a painter. Filmography Louss (1988) Touchia (1992) L'ultima cena (1995) Mirka (2000) For Bread Alone (2006) Parfumes of Algiers (2012) The Star of Algiers (2016) Matarès (2019) References External links 1949 births Living people People from Algiers Algerian film directors Algerian screenwriters University of Paris alumni