Algerian Radio
The Algerian-Qatari documentary "Gijon 1982" was screened on Saturday evening at the Azzedine-Medjoubi Regional Theater in Annaba as part of the 6th Mediterranean Film Festival, in the presence of Algerian football stars from the 1980s, including Rabah Madjer and Lakhdar Belloumi.
The film, produced in collaboration with the Qatari channel Al Jazeera, is filled with exclusive details about the epic journey of the "Greens" during the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.
Its production required travel to three countries to collect testimonies from the protagonists of that era, such as German footballers—notably goalkeeper Harald Schumacher and forward Pierre Littbarski—who spoke about their defeat against Algeria and the behind-the-scenes details of the "match of shame" between the former West Germany and Austria, which precipitated Algeria's elimination.
Rabah Madjer emphasized, in a statement gathered at the end of the screening, that the film faithfully retraces the events of the famous match against the Germans at the El Molinon stadium in Gijon, as well as the highlights of the national team experienced alongside other stars like Lakhdar Belloumi and Salah Assad, among others.
For his part, Lakhdar Belloumi considered that this screening "represents a well-deserved tribute to the generation of 1982, which rose to the challenge against the great nations of world football," highlighting that documenting these moments in cinema helps transmit determination, love for the country, and the thirst for victory to younger generations.
Director Yahia Mouhazem, who participated in the creation of this documentary, stated that through this production, "a chapter of sporting memory is documented within a cinematic framework that combines historical documentation and visual aesthetics."
The screening, held under the slogan "Cinema Pays Tribute to Sport," was marked by a large turnout from the public, who interacted with archival footage and living testimonies that demonstrated the great solidarity and brotherhood that prevailed among the players of the Algerian team.
The 6th Annaba Mediterranean Film Festival, which will continue until April 30, will feature, in addition to the screenings, tributes to eminent artistic figures from Algeria and Mediterranean basin countries, as well as seminars and training workshops aimed at promoting cultural and cinematic activity in the city of Annaba.
