SYNOPSIS

Oran, Algeria. SALIMA (55) is the pillar of her family: she looks after her diabetic mother on a daily basis, assumes various responsibilities in the family candle business, and even helps out in her childhood friend's enterprise. An administrative mistake disrupts Salima's routine when, officially, her marriage of over 30 years is no longer valid. Salima and her husband are presumed to be divorced. This trivial but bureaucratic headache fuels a fear in Salima, which is confirmed when she discovers that her home is under real threat. Her husband has secretly mortgaged their house to buy a medical clinic amidst widespread rumors. Betrayed, Salima fears that her husband's ambitions are doomed to failure and that they will not survive the ordeal. Regaining control to ensure the safety of her household, Salima no longer recognizes herself in the house she is trying to preserve. Her sudden diabetes diagnosis further unsettles her, reviving Salima's profound fear of being trapped in her mother's fate. Her actions nonetheless bear fruit, and when the mortgage falls through, the family's safety is preserved. Though relieved on appearance, Salima remains bitter and is faced with a new choice, her own. A new cycle begins.