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Join on Telegram Rabat – The government apparently made the decision to ban Nabil Ayouch’s prostitution-themed drama “Much Loved” without consulting with the film regulatory body CCM.
CCM director Sarim Fassi-Fihri told Huffpost Morocco website that the Ministry of Communication called them to see if the leaked clips, which have prompted an avalanche of criticism on social media platforms, actually belong to “Much Loved”.
“The Ministry of Communication called us to inquire if the video clips posted for several days on YouTube are present in “Much Loved.” We said yes,” Fassi-Fihri said.
“And it is on this basis that the Ministry decided to ban the screening of the film in Morocco.” The CCM has not given its opinion.
The Ministry of Communication said in a previous statement that the decision to ban the film had been taken after a team from the Moroccan Cinematographic Center (CCM) saw it at an international festival, referring to Cannes Festival.
“After a CCM group saw the film in an international film festival, it was decided not to authorize the release of the film in Morocco, “ a statement from the Ministry of Communication said last Monday.
The film’ director Nabil Ayouch said he was shocked by the decision of the Ministry of Communication because none of its members have actually seen the film, and that he hadn’t even applied for a permit for it be shown in Moroccan movie theaters.
A number of international filmmakers and producers- including Arnaud Desplechin, Michel Hazanavicius, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Costa-Gavras, Bertrand Tavernier, Jean Labadie, Edouard Weil and Christophe Rossignon- have signed a petition to support Ayouch and Loubna Abidar, the film’s main character.
Cannes Directors’ Fortnight Edouard Waintrop has also joined those who are protesting against Morocco’s ban on Nabil Ayouch’s film, saying that the reality the film is seeking to portray “won’t be altered by an act of deliberate censorship.”
