Chantal Briet Alimentation Generale
I met Ali Zebboudj three times in the company of others. I met him on film, never personally. And yet I have the memory of him very precisely in my mind. I see him in his shop in Epinay in Paris, serving his clients with a big heart, always caring about the Other, always having time to listen, to express compassion and give a helping hand when needed in a multicultural, socially tough environment.
Now Ali is dead, murdered some days ago on an early morning when he was about to open his shop. A meaningless act performed by a sick person.
I met Ali the first time in Lisbon when I sat on a jury that did not hesitate to give Chantal Briet the first prize for her documentary film about Ali and his shop, “Alimentation Generale”. I met Ali the second time in Copenhagen when EDN invited the director to show the film to an audience that started to tell stories about local shops with the same heroes of daily life. I met Ali the third time when Chantal Briet showed the film In Belgrade. At a workshop after the screening we all signed the film poster and asked Chantal Briet to bring it home to its main character. “We love You, Ali” were the words that were repeated again and again.
Warm thoughts and hugs can only go to Ali’s family: Zahia, Hakim et Kamel Zebboudj.
