Touda Bouanani, daughter of Ahmed Bouanani, introduces a screening of his feature film Le Mirage (1979). Le Mirage played a pivotal role in bringing experimentation to Moroccan cinema. It follows a young peasant's attempt to change money he finds in a bag of flour, a journey that takes him through the city's dark layers and labyrinths. The film draws allusions to literature and film, Morocco's rich history and oral traditions, and the ever-present specter of colonialism. The screening is also preceeded by a talk by writer, translator, and curator Omar Berrada regarding the figure of the archive in Bouanani's work. After the film there will be a brief Q&A with Berrada and artist Rana Hamadeh.
The event is part of I want to possess in this world that which brings joy to the eyes…, an exhibition presenting the personal archive and a selection of films by filmmaker, poet, and writer Ahmed Bouanani (1938 – 2011). Bouanani was a towering presence in avant-garde film making in Morocco from the sixties onwards, pioneering a cinematic and poetic language that influenced a generation to come.
Le Mirage is screened during IFFR White Nights in collaboration with International Film Festival Rotterdam, as part of the new initiative Rotterdam Xpanded. The screenings can be attended free of charge.