The Blue Caftan (2022)
Director: Maryam Touzani Run Time: 118 min. Rating: NR Release Year: 2023
Starring: Ayoub Messioui, Hamid Zoughi, Lubna Azabal, Mounia Lamkimel, Saleh Bakri
Country: France, Morocco, Belgium, Denmark
Language: Arabic
About the film:
Official Selection, 2022 Cannes Film Festival
Shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards
Halim and Mina run a traditional caftan store in one of Morocco’s oldest medinas. In order to keep up with the commands of the demanding customers, they hire Youssef. The talented apprentice shows an utmost dedication in learning the art of embroidery and tailoring from Halim. Slowly Mina realizes how much her husband is moved by the presence of the young man.
“dares to imagine a world where there’s room for both appreciation of the old ways and room to evolve.”
—Peter Debruge for Variety
About the filmmaker:
Maryam Touzani is a Moroccan filmmaker and actress. She is best known as the director of the critically acclaimed film Adam (2019), Morocco’s entry for the 92nd Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film, and The Blue Caftan (2022), the country’s submission for the same award for the 95th Academy Awards.
Before crafting her award-winning feature films, Touzani worked on a number of acclaimed projects. In 2008, she wrote and directed a documentary for the first National Women’s Day in Morocco, an important date for the country, followed by a number of other documentaries. She wrote and directed the short films When They Slept (2012) and Aya Goes to the Beach (2015). She worked with director Nabil Ayouch on his feature film Much Loved (2015) and again on Razzia (2017), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Along with co-writing the screenplay, she also played the role of Salima in the film, her first time in front of the camera.
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