Casanegra

This movie follows the struggle of two young men who, like many, are suffering the woes of unemployment and adapting to an increasingly cosmopolitan and capitalist Morocco. While one dreams of the escaping to "CasaNegra" (meaning "Black House" a play on the city's name "White House), the other is more cynical and is bound to supporting his family.

While this movie seems under-budgeted, the characters are very memorable and powerful, and most of the actors do a great job (although sometimes its a little over the top). The soundtrack is good at times, ill-suited at others, which is unfortunate because it could have made the movie so much more.

The plot line is appropriate, albeit a little stereotypical, but is definitely violent enough to shock people's sensibilities (which is ultimately its aim).

All in all, I would definitely recommend this movie to any and all Moroccans as its definitely a great watch, not at all tedious, and is a powerful wake-up call for our society. Its spiced with humor and lightheartedness, and dredges up the common taboos of our society into plain sight.

As for non-Moroccans, its still a great movie, though you may miss out a little on the dialogue and the linguistic power of the Moroccan dialect.

Two unemployed petty crime youngsters, Karim and Adil, are both struggling with their own problems and life in Casablanca, Morocco. Adil has a drinking and abusive father. The other has a senile father, but they both dreams of going to Malmø, Sweden, where "everybody gets a job", and bring this best friend Adil there as well. But then he needs to get up with 60.000 dirham (local currency) to people smugglers to get there.

The film is a great postcard of Casablanca, shown as a third main role in the film, both day and night, and soundtrack is very well picked out. Smply perfect.

This is the second feature of director Nour Eddine Lakhmari, which obviously is a very talented film maker. The film is packed with interesting Crater's, especially those on the dark side of the city life.

The film depicts both everyday life, poverty and inequality. What we would call reality. But the film also contains a lot of humour. Maybe that is the main problem for many with this film. the humour isn't always easy to get, being a westerner. It seems like overacting more than funny episodes. Still I guess this is often the case with understanding different cultures. And i also find Amercan comedies tending to do the very same, overacting.

The film is well recommended.

Adil is a bad actor otherwise the film is a moroccan masterpiece

Seen on 20090103 at the beautiful Cinémathèque de Tanger, Morocco.

I loved this movie and I hope that European audiences have the possibility to see it in their countries. It is a sad comedy about two boys from Casablanca, Morocco, struggling to be great mobsters and at the same time dealing with everyday problems, namely violent fathers and love deceptions.

The movie is very stylish. The credit sequence, showing different corners of the streets of Casablanca, is amazing, and made me feel like visiting that city, which I skipped during my travel through Morocco.

The two main characters are portrayed by two excellent actors that I believe have a bright future in Moroccan cinema. I do not know if they are proficient in French and/or English, but I hope so, because they deserve a big European production to show their value. I think their look, not to mention their acting quality, should help them make it into some sets in France, for instance. Their outfit in this movie should help as well. I particularly liked the tie and suit of the guy with the hair locks (inspired by Reservoir Dogs? Who knows?).

Also, many characters in Casanegra are particularly good. I will only mention the small kid-crooks selling cigarettes and the turtle guy (great!). The bearded mobster is great as well, but after a while I grew tired of his way of speaking and overacting.

All in all this is a great movie, but I have to complain at least about its length, which is exaggerate. After such a lengthy movie (the second half is especially cumbersome and full of useless scenes and dialog), one would expect a flamboyant finale, but the conclusion is not. It is in fact completely acceptable, but one would expect more.

Even though mob members are not really loud and flamboyant like zrire9 is, but the movie is the closest can get to life in Casablanca all the while keeping things interesting.

Unfortunately, Casablanca is nothing like the american movie described it, the contrast is clear when you watch both movies.