Directed by Hassan Benjelloun
Produced by Hassan Benjelloun, and Anne-Marie Gelinas
Narrative
Morocco Canada | 2007 | 90 min
In Arabic
with English subtitles
Mustapha is the manager of the only bar in the small town of Boujad, Morocco. The Islamic authorities of the town are eager to close the bar to prevent consumption by Muslims, but they cannot do anything since the city is frequented by many members of the Jewish community. As long as there are customers who are allowed to consume alcohol, Mustapha is free to go on with his business. But when the Jews of Boujad decide to immigrate to the new State of Israel, and the town is losing its Jewish community, Mustapha is desperate to keep his business open. He goes to great lengths to keep the only Jew left in the village from leaving the town.
Hassan Benjelloun
Award-winning Moroccan writer, director, and producer Hassan Benjelloun was born in 1950. He studied filmmaking at the “Conservatoire Libre du Cinéma Français” (CLCF) in Paris. Concerned with controversial issues in Moroccan society, Hassan explores subjects such as women’s rights, the Years of Lead, and the exodus of Moroccan Jews. Hassan has produced and directed ten feature films and four TV movies that have garnered multiple awards and international recognition.