Horses of God (Les Chevaux de Dieu)
Arab Feature Film Competition
Nabil Ayouch / Feature Narrative / Morocco / 2012 / 113 min / Colour / DCP
In Arabic / English subtitles
Interests: Based on a True Story
MENA Premiere
Synopsis
Inspired by the true story of a terrorist attack that took place in Casablanca in 2003, ‘God’s Horses’ is based on ‘The Stars of Sidi Moumen’ by Moroccan novelist and painter Mahi Binebine. The story follows two brothers who live in Sidi Moumen, a poor neighbourhood in Casablanca, over the course of a decade. In childhood, they seek out adventures and excitement, and have all the dreams of the future that come with youth. Eventually, however, they are lured toward extremist views and terrorism. Renowned director Nabil Ayouch filmed in a neighbourhood similar to Sidi Moumen and worked with non-professional actors from the area to capture a haunting realist feel. The film was hugely successful in its native Morocco and has won acclaim from public and critics alike; it was the only Arab film in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival this year.
About the Directors
Born in Paris in 1969, Nabil Ayouch began his career with three shorts, the first of which, ‘ Les Pierres bleues du désert’ (1992), marked the acting debut of French star Jamel Debbouze. Features include ‘Mektoub’ (1998), the multi-award-winning ‘Ali Zaoua’ (2000), ‘A Minute of Sun Less’ (2003), ‘Whatever Lola Wants’ (2007) and ‘My Land’ (2010).
Credits
- Director
- Nabil Ayouch
- Screenwriter
- Jamal Balmahi, Based on the novel "Les etoiles de Sidi Moumen" by Mahi Binebine
- Producer
- Nabil Ayouch, Pierre-Ange Le Pogam, Eric Van Beuren, Patrick Quinet
- Editor
- Damien Kayeux
- Music
- Malvina Meineir
- Cinematographer
- Nabil Ayouch
- Sound
- Zachari Naciri, Eric Lesachet
- Other
- DOP : Hichame Alaouie
- Cast
- Abdelhakim Rachid, Abdelilah Rachid, Hamza Souidek, Ahmed El Idrissi Amrani