![[Nohad Topalian] Moroccan filmmaker Adil El Fadile conveys "humane messages" through his movies.](http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/images/2011/11/04/111104Feature3Photo1.jpg) [Nohad Topalian] Moroccan filmmaker Adil El Fadile conveys “humane messages” through his movies. |
Through his film about an illness-stricken child, Adil El Fadili touches on religious extremism, Moroccan history and cultural change.
By Nohad Topalian for Magharebia in Beirut – 04/11/11
Moroccan director Adil El Fadili’s film, “Courte Vie” (“Short Life”), won great acclaim across the Mediterranean. The short movie received top honours at the 8th Mediterranean Film Festival in Tangier and won the Arab Cinema Festival in Malmo, Sweden.
A life-embracing story of a child suffering from a curse recently made its way to the Middle East. The film was met with great applause at the 11th edition of the Beirut International Cinema Festival.
Magharebia spoke to El Fadili about the messages behind the film and how they pertain to the events unfolding in the Arab world.
Magharebia: What is “Short Life” about?
Adil El Fadili: The film shows the adventures of a young boy named Zhar – meaning the lucky one – who was stuck since birth with a curse for the rest of his life. But, despite all the problems that he faces, he never loses hope for a better life. “Short life” sheds light on a series of events that marked the history of Morocco and other countries.
Magharebia: Do you narrate history through the character of Zhar?
El Fadili: Yes. It is through his character that I tell the story and history of Morocco. It is true that the film portrays a naive view, which is the view of the child about himself and his society. But it also portrays an adult view of things. I merged both views to say what I want.
Magharebia: Are there any political messages in this movie?
El Fadili: Let’s say humane messages, due to the diversity of the topics mentioned. “Short Life” reflects the reality of many societies, not just Morocco’s. As an example, every time we see a movement in a certain country, we find the same reaction. So the film is humane.
Magharebia: The film also tackles the issue of religious extremism. What exactly did you seek to convey?
El Fadili: Through my focus on Zhar, who resorts at some point in his life to religious extremism, I wanted to say that people are the victims of their societies. They find themselves in a state of extremism by chance as a result of a political idea or behaviour that pushed them to do so. There are people who are victims of this political reality, where religion has nothing to do with it.
Magharebia: Where do you stand with regard to what is happening in the Arab world?
In “Short Life”, I call for people to choose their path in light of what is happening in the Arab world in terms of a return to the electoral system, and a search for freedom to live like others.
El Fadili: I stand as a filmmaker. When I treat a story of a certain movie, I talk politics. I look for politics behind every story I tell, even if it is through a naive and childish perspective. Through this approach we discover a lot of political acts. I can play a role through the movies that I make, and the indirect messages carried in them.
Magharebia: What are your future plans?
El Fadili: I am preparing a feature film using the same method as in “Short Life”. I will narrate the history of Morocco since the forties of the last century up to today. In this film, I will focus on the period after the departure of the French, Italians and Jews from our country and talk about them as neighbours who have left, because of events that take place in the world.
This content was commissioned for Magharebia.com.
