ALAOUI, MOROCCO HAS TURNED THE PAGE, AUDIENCE SAYS NO

Posted on | November 18, 2009 | No Comments

ROME, NOVEMBER 18 – In the last 5 years the way of making film in Morocco has changed significantly: from the technology to the issues touched on, from the language used to nude scenes. It is a true revolution for the censorship army and the public not so inclined to ”put up with” not just the images, but also the strong criticism of power and society. In this way, Sanaa Alaoui, a young Moroccan actress who has worked in a number of films, shorts and TV series in Morocco, Spain, France and Mexico, told ANSAmed of the evolution of the seventh art in her country of origin. ”Today’s filmmakers”, she said, ”have modernised the way of making a film. In addition to the quality, which is clearly superior, the stories that our films tell have also changed: talking about drugs, prostitution, corruption politics and sex ten years ago was simply unimaginable. There are censors, but the directors are daring to challenge them”. In a scene from Oud el Ward (La beaute’ eparpillee, 2007) by Lahcen Zinoun – a film that was presented at the XV edition of the Medfilm Festival in Rome. And for which she won the best actress award at the Tangiers Festival – Sanaa bared her chest. ”In that moment”, ‘the actress explained, ”the actresses clothes are torn off, she is humiliated and practically denuded’. It is a scene that was subject to debate in Morocco and for which the beautiful Sanaa was held as an example by the press. ”I was just doing my job”, the artist replied, who wanted to stress that she would never do a gratuitous nude scene, because she ”detests vulgarity”. If Moroccan film has taken steps forward, not all of the public has been willing to accept this evolution. A film like Casanegra (2008) by Noureddin Lakhgaari, shocked the eyes and ears of the more ”chaste” population of the kingdom. ”In Morocco”, Sanaa explained, ”there are two types of spectators: Those ready to accept crude language, even if vulgar, and who want to see things change in their country, and those who don’t admit that the kingdom is spoken badly of, and don’t accept the bitterness of the tales”. The result is that Moroccan society and the public is split in two. ”It is thanks to the work of these directors that Morocco will evolve”, Alaoui concluded.  (ANSAmed).

(by Cristiana Missori)  ANSAmed

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