“My films are an invitation to reflect on universal questions” (Sofia Alaoui) – Media7
Monday, November 27, 2023 at 4:46 p.m.
– Comments collected by Kawtar TIJARI –
Marrakech – “I seek through my cinematographic works to encourage spectators to reflect and question many universal questions,” said young Moroccan director Sofia Alaoui on Monday in Marrakech.
In an interview given to MAP the day after the preview screening of her first feature film “Animalia”, as part of the “Special Screenings” section of the 20th Marrakech International Film Festival, Sofia Alaoui stressed that Living in a world that changes at high speed leaves people little time to ask questions about themselves and broaden the scope of reflection.
“The relationship with time terrifies me. We are constantly obsessed by work, life, money, our place in society and the way others see us, that we find ourselves caught in a spiral and forget to ask ourselves questions,” added the winner of the prestigious César for best short film in 2021 for her film “What does it matter if the beasts die”.
“This is why I find that my film ‘Animalia’ is a sort of invitation to reflect and question our relationship to our own spirituality, to nature, to the environment as well as to the question of social classes”, remarked Sofia Alaoui, adding that she carried out real research and documentation work for this latest “very mystical” film.
“I wanted to explore myself visually” through this first feature film, a mix between documentary film, poetry and the supernatural, she confided.
In this 91-minute film, the public follows the story of Itto, a young woman of modest means married to Amine, son of a rich local notable. She lives with her husband at her in-laws during her pregnancy. One day, while she is alone in the family home, supernatural events occur throughout the country. Left to her own devices, Itto tries to join Amine in a neighboring town. Then begins a fantastic epic.
The young director, who looks beyond borders, says she draws inspiration for her films from world cinema, while immersing herself particularly in the nuances of Asian and Russian cinema to nourish her artistic expression.
Furthermore, Sofia Alaoui expressed her joy and pride that her film was screened as part of the 20th Marrakech International Film Festival which was also for her a place of exchange and professional meetings, adding that it was was an objective to achieve because “when we make a film, we want it to be screened in the best conditions for its preview”.
She also expressed her wish that her work be screened in other Moroccan festivals, notably the Tangier National Film Festival, indicating that she is working on a second feature film, a supernatural film which takes place in Tarfaya , in the Moroccan Sahara.
Placed under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the 20th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival presents a wide range of productions with 75 films from 36 countries.
These films are divided into several sections, namely “the Official Competition”, “the Gala Screenings”, “the Special Screenings”, “the 11th continent”, “the Panorama of Moroccan cinema”, “the Young Audience sessions” and the films screened as part of the tributes.
