Déserts
Fall Grants 2022 - Post-Production Stage
Faouzi Bensaïdi / Feature Narrative / Morocco, France, Germany, Belgium, Qatar / 2023 / 120 min / Colour / Original Language: Arabic / Interests: Comedy, Drama, Social Issues, Satire
Synopsis
Set in the vast, unforgiving landscapes of southern Morocco, ‘Déserts’ tells the tale of two petty criminals, Mehdi and Hamid, who traverse the desert in their wrinkled suits and ties. Their mission? To recover defaulted-upon loans for their agency from villagers stricken with poverty and struggling with drought. The film juxtaposes comedy with the harsh realities of life in the desert, presenting a unique road movie experience. As the duo navigates through the barren lands, their journey becomes a reflection on freedom, confinement, and the clash between modernity and tradition, encapsulating the essence of human resilience and camaraderie against the backdrop of Morocco’s stunning yet challenging terrain.
Credits
- Director
- Faouzi Bensaïdi
- Screenwriter
- Faouzi Bensaïdi
- Producer
- Saïd Hamich Benlarbi, Nicole Gerhards, Sébastien Delloye
- Production Company
- Barney Production
About the Director
Faouzi Bensaïdi is a Moroccan director, screenwriter, and actor known for his multi-award-winning films. His debut short film, 'La Falaise', won international prizes in 1997, and he co-wrote 'Loin' with André Téchiné. His first feature, 'Mille Mois', premiered at Un Certain Regard at Cannes, earning two prestigious awards. Bensaïdi's latest film, 'Deserts', which received a Doha Film Institute grant, was screened at Qumra 2023. His acclaimed films 'WWW – What a Wonderful World' and 'Mort à Vendre' earned recognition at Venice and the Berlinale.