Info:

Screening format: DCP
Original title: الكفتان الأزرق
Director: Maryam Touzani
Writer: Maryam Touzani
Cast: Lubna Azabal, Saleh Bakri, Ayoub Messioui
Countries of origin: Morocco, France, Belgium, Denmark
Language: Arabic
Subtitles: English
Runtime: 2 hours 2 minutes

About the film:

Halim, a middle aged tailor, struggling to keep his trade alive in a world where machines have replaced the artisanal work once done by hand, runs a traditional caftan store in Salé, Morocco with his wife Mina. As the couple struggle with keeping up with the demands of customers, they hire a talented young man called Youssef. While the arrival of the handsome apprentice helps with the business, it becomes increasingly harder for Halim to keep his homosexuality a secret.

Salem Bakri and Lubna Azabal shine in their roles, elevating the film with their powerful performances. Bakri, a seasoned actor known for his remarkable performances, delivers yet another exceptional portrayal in his role as Halim. He and Azabal infuse their characters with a deep sense of intimacy and an effortless affection that is palpable from the outset.

Overall, The Blue Caftan is a delicate film about yearning, love and death, packed with loving details and beautifully crafted characters. It is a masterful work of cinema, buoyed by the exceptional performances of its lead actors and Touzani's sensitive and nuanced direction.

The film won the prestigious Fipresci Award at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.

Maryam Touzani (born 1980, Morocco)

Maryam Touzani is a filmmaker, journalist and actor from Morocco. After multiple short films and a documentary about International Women’s Day, she directed her first feature length fiction film, the critically acclaimed Adam (2019). Touzani is also the screenwriter of Casablanca Beats (2021) and Razzia (2017), which were directed by her husband Nabil Ayouch.