As one of eight children in an Algerian immigrant family living on the outskirts of Marseilles, Samia is an adolescent girl caught between two cultures and struggling for her freedom, dignity, and self-worth. Her daily life exposes her to the openness and stimulation of French city life, but she also faces racism both subtle and overt, as well as traditions that can become rigid and hostile to a strong-willed individual. The film is steeped in the sensual details of family life such as daily food preparation and a traditional Algerian marriage ceremony. Philippe Faucon's intelligent, classically naturalistic direction and Lynda Benahouda's luminous performance make Samia nuanced and powerful. With short: Feats of Hercules (Sergei Ovcharov, Russia, 2000, 10 mins): Animated actors and vases tell stories from Greek mythology.