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
After winning awards at Cannes and Venice for his three short films, Faouzi Bensaïdi directed his debut feature film, 'Mille Mois', in 2003. This film garnered two awards in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes. In 2006, his film 'WWW: What a Wonderful World' was presented at Venice Days. Bensaïdi directed 'Death for Sale' in 2013, which won the Berlin CICAE award. His most recent feature, 'Volubilis', released in 2018, was also selected for Venice Days. Beyond directing, Bensaïdi has acted for several distinguished directors, including Jacques Audiard, Nabil Ayouch, Bertrand Bonello, André Téchiné, and Nadir Moknèche.