This evening, at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, the emotion was palpable as a vibrant tribute was paid to Naïma Elmcherqui, timeless icon of the Moroccan artistic scene. Disappeared on October 5, 2024, the great Lady of the Heart, as the director Mohamed Mouftakir nicknamed her, marked several generations with her talent, her generosity and her commitment. This tribute was part of the 21st edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival, bringing together emblematic figures of Moroccan cinema, cinephiles and admirers of the artist.
During this evening rich in memories and anecdotes, three major figures of the Moroccan seventh art, Abderrahmane Tazi, Mohamed Mouftakir and Fatima Khair, spoke to evoke the greatness of Naïma Elmcherqui. Among the interventions, that of Mohamed Mouftakir particularly moved the audience. He spoke of an actress “enveloped in a palette of colors emanating from the generosity of her acting and the intense emotions she diffused”. For him, Naïma Elmcherqui embodied a human warmth that transcended her characters, becoming a reference figure in Moroccan collective memory.
Born in Casablanca in 1943, Naïma Elmcherqui discovered her passion for the stage at a very young age. Encouraged by those around her, she quickly joined the most prestigious theater troupes, such as that of Tayeb Seddiki, Maâmora and Radio Nationale, establishing herself as a promising actress in the 1960s. Her career in the theater naturally led her to cinema, where she collaborates with renowned directors.
In the 1970s, she left her mark on emblematic works such as Noces de sang (1977) by Souheil Ben Barka and 44 ou les histoire de la nuit (1981) by Moumen Smihi. But it was in Badis (1989), under the direction of Mohamed Abderrahman Tazi, that she achieved national and international recognition. Their collaboration continued with popular hits like In Search of My Wife’s Husband (1992) and Lalla Hobby (1996). Her performance in The Neighbors of Abou Moussa (2003), where she plays a queen, remains engraved in the history of Moroccan cinema.
Her career took on an international dimension in 1993, when she filmed in the Italian Cinecittà studios for Articolo 2 by Maurizio Zaccaro. Later, she distinguished herself in Mauvaise Faith (2006), directed by Roschdy Zem, where she played a poignant role which appealed to the French public. In 2020, she landed her last major role in The Autumn of Apple Trees by Mohamed Mouftakir, which earned her a prestigious best actress award at the Malmö Arab Film Festival.
Naïma Elmcherqui has not limited herself to the big screen. On television, she has appeared in numerous TV films and serials, confirming her popularity with all generations. A committed woman, she also devoted a large part of her life to humanitarian causes, notably as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF and an active member of the National Observatory for the Rights of the Child.
Mouftakir’s testimony this evening in Marrakech alone sums up the impact of this exceptional woman: “ On the set, I was not directing an actress, but an aura of grandeur. She was present, even in her absence, like the great actors “. A sentence that resonates as an ultimate tribute to the woman who, through her talent and generosity, illuminated Moroccan cinema.
