LES CHEVAUX DE DIEU

Credits

Name: LES CHEVAUX DE DIEU

Country: Marokko

Year of publication: 2012

Format: DCP

Color: color

Language : OF m. engl. UT

Duration: 115 Minuten

Direction: Ayouch, Nabil

Screenplay: Belmahi, Jamal

Camera: Alaouie, Hichame

Editing: Keyeux, Damien

Actor: Rachi, Abdelhakim; Rachid, Abdelilah; Souidek, Hamza; El Idrissi Amrani, Ahmed

Abstract

Yachine is 10 years old, he lives with his family in the slum of Sidi Moumen in Casablanca. His mother, Yemma, cares for the children and leads the family as best she can. His father suffers from depression, one of his brothers is in the army, another is autistic, and the third, 13-year-old Hamid, is a hotshot in the local neighbourhood as well as Yachine’s protector. When Hamid is sent to jail, Yachine takes up odd jobs to escape from the vicious cycle of violence, misery and drugs. Once released from prison, Hamid, now an Islamic fundamentalist, persuades Yachine and his mates to join them. Their spiritual leader, the imam Abou Zoubeir, starts to direct their long-standing physical and mental preparation. One day, he tells them they have been chosen to become martyrs.

The film is inspired by the terrorist attacks of 16 May 2003 in Casablanca, and its title refers to the traditional call for holy war. Director Nabil Ayouch had already filmed his feature film ALI ZAOUA (2000) in Sidi Moumen, which FilmInitiativ has screened several times in Cologne. LES CHEVAUX DE DIEU has received numerous prizes at many international festivals, such the best script award at the 2013 FESPACO in Ouagadougou and the film critics’ award at the Journées Cinématographiques de Carthage in Tunis.

  Trailer