Ayouch’s ‘Razzia’ Morocco’s foreign-language Oscar entry – ‘Saawan’ selected by Pakistan for Oscar contention

This news has been read 4869 times!

LOS ANGELES, Sept 17, (RTRS): Nabil Ayouch’s kaleidoscopic social drama “Razzia” which world premiered at the Toronto Festival, has been chosen as Morocco’s candidate in the foreign-language category of the 2018 Academy Awards.

The film was chosen by an independent commission nominated by the Moroccan Cinema Center (CCM), composed of writers, directors, producers, distributors, plus a representative of the CCM, and was chaired by writer and painter Mahi Binebine.

Ayouch is one of the Arab world’s best-known directors. Three of his previous features have been put forward by Morocco as its Oscar submission — Mektoub” (1998), “Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets” (2000), and “Horses of God” (2013).

In June, he became the first Moroccan to be invited as a lifetime member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where one of the pre-requisites to be invited was that at least two of his films must have been shortlisted for the Academy Awards.

Ayouch said that he “was surprised and happy” to be invited to join the Academy.

“It’s a recognition of my work by the world’s oldest film academy and will probably help Moroccan cinema, and the cinema of the region, to get more visibility in Hollywood”, he said.

He added: “I think that it is a smart decision by the Academy Awards to open up to the rest of the world’s film industries, especially the Arab world, at a time when the US administration is getting more aggressive and closed”.

“Razzia” is his most ambitious project to date, weaving together five separate stories over a 40-year period. One of the film’s recurring themes is a reference to the 1942 classic “Casablanca”, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, which is ironically one of Morocco’s best-known symbols, even though it was shot entirely in Hollywood during WWII.

“In both films, people are fighting against an ideology”, Ayouch explained. “They’re fighting against the Nazis in ‘Casablanca’ and in my film they are also trying to resist. The analogy is very clear”.

Influence

For Ayouch, the “Casablanca” sub-theme didn’t influence the nomination but he thinks it will help bring “Razzia” closer to American audiences.

The helmer was delighted by the response in Toronto. “There were very good reactions from industry professionals and especially the audience. The three screenings were sold out. Maryam Touzani, the main actress and co-scriptwriter) and I heard great comments from the audience during and after the Q&A’s. The audience showed a real interest towards the directing/structure and the issues that the film deals with, such as civil rights and education in the Arab world”.

The nomination as Morocco’s official candidate for the Academy Awards marks a significant turnaround in recent domestic appraisal of Ayouch’s work, following the 2015 ban of his previous pic, prostitution drama “Much Loved” — which received severe criticism from local conservative hawks, who have been trying to guarantee “clean art” in Moroccan film and television.

Ayouch confided to Variety that his Academy Awards nomination demonstrates that there isn’t a unidirectional approach towards Moroccan cinema and he’s hopeful that it forms part of a more open attitude towards film at home.

Also:

LOS ANGELES: “Saawan”, a suspense drama set in the remote deserts, has been selected as Pakistan’s contender for the foreign-language Oscars race. The selection was announced by the Pakistan Academy Selection Committee.

Based on real events that highlight societal injustices and the failure of the feudal justice system, the film is directed and lensed by veteran film and TV director Farhan Alam. It was written and produced by US-based physician Mashood Qadri, through production company Kalakar Films.

According to the producers’ online synopsis “Sawaan” is “the story of a handicapped 9-year-old boy, abandoned in a desolate valley in the mountains of Balochistan. The boy is rejected by his father, intimidated by society, harassed by friends and left alone in a valley in the scorching heat to die, due to his disability. Strengthened by memories and dreams of the love of his mother, he begins a perilous journey back to his family in the main city”.

The film picked up awards at the Madrid International Film Festival, the Social World Film Festival and other events.

Other tech credits go to Indian film editor Aseem Sinha and a music score by US-based Amir Isilah, making for what the producers describe is a product of co-operation between Bollywood, Hollywood and the Pakistani film industry.

 

This news has been read 4869 times!

Back to top button

Advt Blocker Detected

Kindly disable the Ad blocker

Verified by MonsterInsights