A watershed film Omar Gatlato held a mirror up to Algerian male culture and the mirror cracked. The title refers to the expression "gatlato al-rujula " or roughly "machismo killed him" and the film's mordant insights into male posturing and alienation in Algerian society animate this bit of folk wisdom. In mock documentary style a young man recounts with wry commentary a typical day in his life in the Bab el-Oued quarter of Algiers while the camera playfully shows a different story. In following Omar and his friends in their pursuit of happiness the film examines with shrewd humor the gang values of urban youth; their passion for popular culture (soccer "Hindoo" movies Rai concerts) their hidden fear of women and their social insecurity in an environment where they are marginalized.