Beautiful portrait of a woman
After the young apprentice rappers shouting their anger against the Moroccan society of loud and clear in 2021, Nabil Ayouch returns to music, traditional this time, in his new film Everybody Loves Touda. Its heroine is in fact a specialist in aitaa Moroccan musical tradition, particularly from the Atlas Mountains.
“Loud and strong”: Nabil Ayouch delivers a vibrant film, thanks to the energy of the youth of Casablanca
Through this character, the Franco-Moroccan filmmaker here attacks the patriarchal society of Morocco. A strong and determined, independent woman, Touda constantly sees her dreams shattered, while men are as fascinated as they are disgusted by these women who sing, dance and are showered with money. For the latter, the line seems blurred between singer, girl leading men to drink and prostitute.
Another Morocco
Leaving Casablanca, where most of his films are set, Nabil Ayouch films, in the first part ofEverybody Loves Toudaanother Morocco, more remote, even downright rural. With an ambivalent outlook, because the beauty of the landscapes and the charm of a peaceful life hide a social context of poverty, from which we must escape if we wish to access education and a form of freedom. The filmmaker once again paints a portrait between love and hatred of his country, at once magnificent, vibrant, and locked in reflexes from another age. The director does it very intelligently, by studying the relationship to tradition, that ofaitawhere free women sing about love, but also pain. An engaged art, particularly during the colonial period, where people sang of repression and the desire to drive the French colonists out of the country…
With “Adam”, Maryam Touzani signs a sensitive first feature film on the condition of women in Morocco
If it is difficult, throughout the film, to truly fathom the motivations of this flamboyant Touda, she is played by the formidable Nisrin Erradi, for whom Ayouch wrote the role. Discovery in 2020 in Adam (the first film by Maryam Touzani, Ayouch’s wife and co-writer), the Moroccan actress portrays with great conviction (and a beautiful voice) this heroine constantly caught up in her condition as a singer. Superbly staged, the film never ceases to bring it back to this atrocious opening scene. Particularly in the long sequence shot, absolutely chilling…
Everybody Loves Touda Drama Of Nabil Ayouch Scenario Nabil Ayouch and Maryam Touzani Photography Virginie Sourdough Musique Flemming Nordkrog Montage Nicolas Rumpl With Nisrin Erradi, Joud Chamihy, Jalila Tlemsi… Duration 1h42
