I live in Morocco so I'm pretty open to nuance and possibilities here. There were a few scenes and actions that were not true to life and detracted from the film as they made me think of them negatively. The scenes in the hammam were not real. Firstly, it's unlikely that guys would cruise each other in the way they do in the film in a real place. Then blatantly taking one's conquest into a private booth when others can see what's going on under the door is just not credible. I've been to hammams and it just doesn't happen like that. The film was set in the medina of Salé. If any guy was so blatant about pulling other men at the baths, the whole médina would have known about it. So some of the lines in the film didn't ring true such as Halim's confession to Mina and her seeming acceptance of it. The couple would have been social outcasts in actual fact.
Nonetheless, hints that Mina knew were in the film. When she caught Halim ogling Youssef it didn't look as if this was the first time. And who wouldn't ogle Ayoub Missioui's character? Those come-to-bed eyes and his lips were seductive in the extreme. One wonders if there was more to the previous apprentices leaving than simple unsuitability to the work.
One last gripe. I'm not sure that the use the caftan was put to would have been allowed.
Apart from that I sat transfixed during the two hours of the film. Nabil Ayouch's influence was clear. Never one to shy away from difficult themes, forbidden desires were emphasised here. The fluttering attraction between the two men was delicately handled. In the meantime, Lubna Azabal as Mina played a fantastic part as the wife whom Halim, despite his deepest proclivities, really loved.
On several occasions during the film, I was overcome by emotion and had to pause once.
Despite the inner contradictions of this film that people not living here might not notice, I would absolutely recommend this. My few doubts were washed away by the sheer artistry of the players and screenplay. Put a couple of hours aside and watch.
Nonetheless, hints that Mina knew were in the film. When she caught Halim ogling Youssef it didn't look as if this was the first time. And who wouldn't ogle Ayoub Missioui's character? Those come-to-bed eyes and his lips were seductive in the extreme. One wonders if there was more to the previous apprentices leaving than simple unsuitability to the work.
One last gripe. I'm not sure that the use the caftan was put to would have been allowed.
Apart from that I sat transfixed during the two hours of the film. Nabil Ayouch's influence was clear. Never one to shy away from difficult themes, forbidden desires were emphasised here. The fluttering attraction between the two men was delicately handled. In the meantime, Lubna Azabal as Mina played a fantastic part as the wife whom Halim, despite his deepest proclivities, really loved.
On several occasions during the film, I was overcome by emotion and had to pause once.
Despite the inner contradictions of this film that people not living here might not notice, I would absolutely recommend this. My few doubts were washed away by the sheer artistry of the players and screenplay. Put a couple of hours aside and watch.