Rabat – The Moroccan movie “Le Bleu du Caftan” by renowned filmmaker Maryam Touzani was awarded yesterday the International Critics’ Prize at the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
This is the first time for a Moroccan movie to receive the coveted award from the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI).
In competition with 18 other international films, “Le Bleu du Caftan” was first screened on May 26 in the official selection of the Cannes festival under the category “Un Certain Regard.”
Directed by Maryam Touzani, “Le bleu du Caftan” was co-produced by her husband and fellow filmmaker Nabil Ayouch, as well as by Moroccan actor Amine Benjelloun.
The FIPRESCI jury said they awarded Touzani the critics’ prize for the “bravery” of her movie in tackling a hot-button topic in Moroccan society.
Entertainment news outlet Variety quoted the jury as saying, “The director was brave enough to devote her gaze to the concealed homosexuality of a married man in Morocco. Through her work, she knows how to show us the world and the sad reality of a nation that she loves over all else.”
“Le Bleu du Caftan” narrates the story of Halim, long married to Mina, with whom he runs a traditional caftan shop in the old medina of Sale, near Rabat.
Halim stifled his homosexuality due to the homophobia in Morocco, but his marriage life begins to change as he starts developing feelings for Youssef, a new employee at the couple’s caftan shop.
The film features Saleh Bakri, Lubna Azabal, Ayoub Missioui, Mounia Lamkimel, Hamid Zoughi and many other Moroccan actors.
For this year’s festival, the FIPRESCI Prize’s jury committee was chaired by Egyptian director Ahmed Shawky alongside several renowned personalities in the international cinema industry, including French Nathalie Chifflet, American Emanuel Levy, and Moroccan Jihane Bougrine.
The first FIPRESCI award ceremony took place in 1946 at the first ever Cannes Film Festival.
Read Also: Filmmaker Nabil Ayouch Represents Moroccan Cinema at Cannes 2022
