A secret gay love affair unspools in this Moroccan drama shortlisted for the Oscars
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Loading... - Akila Kamal
- 19 Jan 2023
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Awards season is in full swing as films and stars make their play for Oscar nominations
Awards season is in full swing as films and stars make their play for Oscar nominations. And while most of the competitors have already hit theaters, there are plenty of smaller, indie, and international features yet to receive a wider release that are well worth your attention.
One such movie is The Blue Caftan, a Moroccan queer love story that wowed audiences last year at the Cannes Film Festival and now finds itself on the Academy Awards’ shortlist for Best International Feature.
From celebrated filmmaker Maryam Touzani, The Blue Caftan spins the story of married couple Halim (Saleh Bakri, The Band’s Visit) and Mina (Lubna Azabal, Incendies) who run a traditional caftan shop in one of Morocco’s oldest city centers.
To cater to a demanding clientele, the pair decides to hire on a handsome young assistant named Youssef (newcomer Ayoub Messioui), who takes an interest in the traditional art of tailoring and embroidery. And, surprising even himself, Halim discovers he‘s taken an interest in the new apprentice.
With Mina’s health in decline, Halim finds himself drawn to Youssef more and more, and the pair’s bond grows intimate. But Mina gradually catches on as the longing glances between the men become more frequent, which threatens to unspool their years-long relationship—and the business that’s become their livelihood. Read More…
