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Internationally acclaimed Moroccan-French movie director Nabil Ayouch has been selected in the official competition of the 74th edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
Ayouch is nominated for his film “Haut et Fort” (High and Loud), and is competing alongside 23 other productions for the prestigious Palme d’Or.
“Haut et Fort ” tells the story of Anas, a former rapper turned tutor in a cultural center in a district of Casablanca. Encouraged by their new teacher, the youngsters attending the center try to break away from societal expectations, pursue their passion and express themselves through hip hop culture and rap music.
Anas Basbousi, a rapper, actor and youth worker stars in the eponymous title role. Anas goes by the stage name “Bawss”. He is the founder of the “Positive School of Hip Hop” project, the first Hip Hop training program in Morocco launched in 2016. His initiative earned him the title of “Ambassador of Moroccan Hip Hop to the United States” in 2019.
Nabil Ayouch’s movies are known for their strong social themes and realistic imagery. Often depicting underprivileged segments of Moroccan society, he is credited for giving a voice to those who lack it through his art.
His 2012 film “Horses of God” was met with great critical acclaim, and was a commercial success. The film is a fictional account of the lives of the men responsible for the 2003 suicide bombings in Casablanca. It revealed the many elements leading to the slow radicalization of youth in some of Morocco’s most economically vulnerable communities.
Another one of Ayouch’s popular films is 2003’s “Ali Zaoua,” which follows the story of street children in Casablanca, as they navigate the concrete jungle that is the economic capital of the country.
The film was credited for highlighting the dire situation of street kids in Morocco, and triggered broad public interest on the matter.
Despite his popularity, Nabil Ayouch’s work is not immune to criticism. Back in 2015, his film “Much Loved” stirred major controversy in Morocco, and was banned from theaters across the kingdom. The subject matter and explicit portrayal of sex workers in Marrakesh was perceived as defamatory to the image of the country, and was deemed highly inappropriate.
In response to the public uproar and the resulting ban, Nabil Ayouch said that “ it’s a wound. We make films to show them. Banning it in my home country meant cutting off the link with that audience. The torrent of violence and hatred that followed shocked me.” Yet he was not deterred, saying it only reinforced his conviction that there is an urgent need to speak on such matters.
Despite the diversified discourse surrounding Nabil Ayouch, he remains one of the most talented, skilled and creative Moroccan directors working today, and this nomination only proves his much-deserved status.
