20 Friday Lifestyle | Features Friday, July 16, 2021 abil Ayouch says he can barely believe Saturday, has been widely welcomed in Nhis movie, “Casablanca Beats”, is the Morocco. That’s in sharp contrast to his earli- first Moroccan film in almost 60 years er film “Much Loved”, a candid take on prosti- to compete for the Palme d’Or at Cannes. It tution in the country that triggered anger is as if “I was a child and I’ve passed a bak- online and even death threats. The film was ery with a lovely chocolate eclair in the win- shown at Cannes in 2015 but banned at dow that I’ve never been allowed to have-and home, where authorities deemed it damaged Spike Lee now finally I can,” the director told AFP. the country’s image as well as being “an His is only the second Moroccan film ever affront to moral values and Moroccan chosen for the official selection at Cannes, women”. He’s gotta have after Abdelaziz Ramdani’s “Ames et rythmes” “The ‘Much Loved’ episode isn’t totally for- back in 1962. “Casablanca Beats”-the gotten, but the wounds have largely healed French-Moroccan director’s seventh feature- Nabil Ayouch, a French-Moroccan television and and my determination is intact,” said Ayouch. it: Spike Lee’s is about young people seeking an outlet film director, producer, and writer poses for a pic- “I want my films to travel but my natural audi- through hip hop. “They have so many stories ture in Casablanca. — AFP ence is the Moroccan public,” he added. to tell but not the tools to do it,” said Ayouch, In 2014, Ayouch founded the Stars “Those who say I ride on the back of others’ Cannes cash-in 52. It is set in Sidi Moumen, a rundown dis- Cultural Centre in the deprived district, offer- misery don’t watch my films.” The director trict made infamous in 2003 after a group of ing music, dance and other classes. The film- grew up in the working-class Paris suburb of radicalised local youth carried out suicide maker said the centre provided the idea-and Sarcelles, falling in love with the films of S director Spike Lee raised bombings in the city, killing 33 people. much of the cast-for the fictional “Casablanca Charlie Chaplin and Terrence Malick through Ueyebrows at the Cannes Ayouch is not new to the neighborhood. Beats”. “I attended some workshops and it the cinema club of his local youth center. In Wednesday when he put His 2012 film “Horses of God”, inspired by was really incredible to see them dancing, the late 1990s, at the age of 30, he moved signed film festival merchandise up a novel by Moroccan painter and author Mahi and to listen to their lyrics,” he recalled. “I permanently to Morocco and founded his for sale on his personal website. Binebine, followed two brothers from their wanted the whole world to hear what they production company. “It’s thanks to cinema The legendary “Do The Right childhood up to the day they decide to have to say.” that I’ve been able to go find Morocco,” he Thing” director is the first black per- become suicide bombers, and used non-pro- told AFP. “I want to show it in all its generosi- son ever to head the jury at the fessional actors from the district. He also shot ‘Affront to moral values’ ty, diversity and contradictions.”— AFP world’s biggest film festival. He has scenes from his indie hit “Ali Zaoua: Prince of The participation of “Casablanca Beats” at cut a dash with his own very per- the Streets” there more than a decade earlier. the Cannes festival, which runs until sonal sense of style on the red car- pet, sporting a tricolor beret to mark France’s Bastille Day on going to give her the second degree,” said film, and I don’t think I’ll rush to show her Wednesday. However, the Lemercier. “Celine is someone that I admire either. She’s lost people close to her and I Brooklyn-based filmmaker was Celine Dion a lot, that never bores me. Whatever she think she’s someone who needs to keep called out for putting signed 1.50- does, it’s always amusing, interesting-she’s looking forward in order to keep going,” euro festival postcards up for sale captivating.” The film has been delayed by Lemercier said. She was referring to the on his Instagram page for $100. biopic powered the pandemic, having been set for release death of Dion’s husband, Rene Angelil, Photographer Samina Seyed, before Christmas, and now due in cinemas who was 20 years her senior. Their out-of- who has more than 42,000 follow- this November. Lemercier was philosophi- the-ordinary love story is central to the film. ers on the app, said: “Dear Spike, I by love at Cannes cal: “If we hadn’t had this delay, we wouldn’t Lemercier added: “I’ve dreamed since the know that your signature is price- be here in Cannes... and hey, it gave me start of the moment when she sees it and I less... but $100 dollars for your some time to tidy up my house.” hope she likes it and sees the care all of us name on a postcard?” Lee adorns biopic of Celine Dion offered some festival posters all over the French light relief from the usual gritty art- took to showcase her character, her A ‘Character and humor’ humor.” She will be hoping that Dion takes Riviera resort, and also features on house fare at Cannes. “Aline: The massive billboards promoting luxu- Voice of Love” is one of the least pretentious The actress said she did not feel the a more favorable attitude than some need to meet the real Dion, having so reviewers.—AFP ry Montblanc pens. He has also music biopics in memory, presenting Dion collaborated with Louis Vuitton for as a gawky nerd who nonetheless sailed immersed herself in her performances and TV appearances. “Celine hasn’t seen the his Cannes wardrobe. His website from child stardom to become the stadium- urges his fans to buy the postcards filling queen of soft rock. The film-makers to “celebrate the first black presi- said they tweaked the star’s name to Aline dent of the jury in the festival’s 74- Dieu to give them some wriggle room over year history”. It also says he is the the details of her story, though it hews close- first living person ever to appear on ly to Dion’s real life and songs. “Otherwise Cannes’ official poster. Lee, 64, we would have a brother complaining that has spent much of the festival sup- his jumper in 1988 was blue not red,” joked porting black and minority artists Valerie Lemercier, who directs and stars in and attended an early morning the film, at a news conference Wednesday. motivational breakfast for migrants While it takes a very relaxed, low-drama making a new life in France. AFP approach to its subject, the film does include contacted both the festival and Lee one striking directorial decision by having for comment but received no imme- Lemercier play Dion from the age of 12 right diate comment. — AFP through to adulthood, with the help of some photo-shopping. But there was never any suggestion that the film would do anything Celine Dion but fawn over the star. “We were never.