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Everybody Loves Touda

Nabil Ayouch
festival
Fri 25 Apr 25 - Sun 4 May 25
  • Caution with children up to 16 years of age

This candid portrait of a Moroccan singer, full of thrilling song and dance scenes, is carried by an actress who radiates so much charisma with emotional dedication that it captivates the viewer. 

Touda dreams of becoming a cheikha, a traditional Moroccan singer. She convinces herself that she’s sacrificing herself to give her deaf mute son, Yassine, a better future. Her conservative brother ostracizes her, seeing her as a promiscuous woman. Touda decides to leave for the big city, Casablanca. 

Nabil Ayouch, one of Morocco’s most prominent filmmakers, isn’t afraid of politically engaged cinema. His latest film, co-written with his wife Maryam Touzani, is deliberately critical of today’s patriarchal Moroccan society. As a true aesthete, Ayouch tells the story with feverish dance scenes and stirring Moroccan music. Fragile, uncompromising, and charged with charisma, actress Nisrin Erradi maintains control over her body, desires, and freedom. 

direction
Nabil Ayouch
cast
Nisrin Erradi, Joud Chamihy, Jalila Talemsi
duration
102 min
year
2024
country
Morocco
language
Arabic
Subtitles
French, Dutch
  • Caution with children up to 16 years of age

festival

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Nabil Ayouch

director

"Une ode à la liberté à la fois glaçante et bouleversante." − Elle