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 with his second film
Touchia, his films got more socially and politically committed. He is also a painter. == Filmography ==