Mimosas, la voie de l'Atlas

It is said by some that "Mimosas" is a 'contemporary Moroccan western' and why not. Over the decades we have come to learn that the Western is as much a state of mind as it is a genre and that it is not rooted in any particular time or place. The Western tropes apparent in "Mimosas" are a journey on horseback through mountainous terrain, in this case by three men tasked with taking the body of a dead sheik to his place of burial, (Tommy Lee Jones covered similar territory in the much more traditional "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada"), together with a few gun attacks and a couple of killings. Indeed, were it not for an early sequence in a city or town involving a fleet of taxis we might be back two centuries and, if not in the American West, at least in recognizable 'Western' terrain and in one scene near the end of the film we could even be back 2,000 years.

In some respects you could say not a great deal happens, at least not conventionally, in Oliver Laxe's film, (it's only his second), and yet this is so much more than a beautifully photographed travelogue, (Laxe shot the film on location mostly in the Atlas mountains). There is an almost profound sense of both joy and sadness in the relationship that develops between the three men and their strange cargo as well as genuine sense of mystery, (many events are left unexplained). Laxe also gets wonderful performances from Ahmed Hammoud as the man who agrees to take the body in the first place and from Shakib Ben Omar as the little runt who proves to have a lot more going for him than meets the eye, (neither men are professional actors though Shakib did appear in Laxe's first film). There are also scenes here of such pure physicality that they almost rival those in "Aguirre, Wrath of God". I have yet to see Laxe's earlier "You are all Captains" but "Mimosas" certainly heralds the arrival of a major player in world cinema.

The initial scenario is a city fronting a barren plain in Morocco, with the majestic Atlas mountains in the background. The manager of a taxi agency is assigning jobs to prospective drivers. He has a special assignment not involving driving; to guide an old, gravely ill sheik to Sijilmasa, where he expects to be buried. The sheik's wife and a few hired helpers are along for the trek. The driver chosen as guide is young Shakib. The other drivers are quick to point out his lack of experience but the boss credits him with having baraka (a divine blessing that provides spiritual force).

The whole purpose of the expedition is puzzling, as Sijilmassa is accessible by road. Nobody in the group (including Shakib) seems to know how to get to Sijilmassa and they finally choose to cut across the mountains on paths that cross dangerous rivers or are mere shelves carved in dizzying rock walls. The caravan doesn't attain its objective; the sheikh dies on the way and shortly after the group is beset by bandits.

Sijilmassa, a thriving city in the Middle Ages was abandoned at the beginning of the 19th century and now survives as a vast array of ruins frequented by tourists and archeologists (we see Sijilmassa in its former splendor in a wall painting at the beginning). The action is divided in three parts, each named after a Sufi prayer position; In fact religion is the key to the tale. Shakib's faith is childlike, sometimes unsophisticated and uninformed (which causes ribbing from his companions). He believes that the path to truth will be revealed to those that look sincerely for it. And, his religion is not purely a mental construct; it motivates his actions, as when he confronts a group of bandits single handed and poorly armed. In a dialogue near the end Shakib refers to Sijilmassa, in its medieval splendor, as a city of supernatural wonders, a step to Heaven or Heaven itself. This makes the story a religious pilgrimage which does not attain its end but where truths and revelations are found in the way.

French born Galician director Oliver Laxe tells the tale in an austere, minimalistic way (perhaps too much so at times) supported by the excellent cinematography of Mauro Herce that captures equally well the melancholic desert vistas and the stark, forbidding landscapes of the Atlas Mountains. Acting is flawless; most of the actors are nonprofessionals playing themselves. A quality film.

An spiritual journey into a human soul seeking for faith. Beautifully photographed and nicely told and crafted through 3 chapters that structure the whole film perfectly. Probably the only bad thing about the film would be the fact that it is not what i would call an enjoyable movie, or a movie that i would love to go back to eventually. And of course, not a movie you would expect to work in the box office. One of this "just for film festivals" movie that is definitely worth watching at least once.

After winning the FRIPESCI price with his first work, he won the Critics Week Grand Prize with this one. And last year, he won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize with his latest film (O que arde), all three of them in Cannes. Oliver Laxe is surely looking premising so far.

I want my time back. There is maybe 10 minutes of story. This movie could have five minutes and it would tell everything that happens. I don't get this idea of insanely long takes of people walking in a desert, other people sitting in silence inside traveling vehicles or dialogues that takes 30 seconds between every line. OK, I get the idea of different landscapes and cultures, blablabla but I have better things to do.

An agreeable and interesting drama/adventure in Western style with splendid cinematography and gorgeous outdoors from a special place in contemporary Morocco in which a caravan of travelers searches for a pass that will allow them to return an ailing elderly Sufi master to his home to die . An attractive and sensitive story starred by unexperienced but good protagonists and including spectacular outdoors from mountains Atlas, Morocco . Among the party is Ahmed, a rogue and a survivor, who is willing to do whatever it takes to rise up from his unfortunate condition . Ahmed is particularly inspired by the Sufi master , and, upon the old man's death, he has taken the lead of the risky expedition . On his journey, he receives the assistance of Shakib, a young man sent on a mission.

Rural tale set in the High Atlas Mountains at an indeterminate time in the past, including wonderful landscapes , nicely starred and being compellingly directed by Oliver Laxe . This is an enjoyable and intense adventure that follows an expedition throughout dangerous and mountainous landscapes and a particular relationship between the strange characters . Its style is pretty much rural and realistic as well in the atmosphere as in the fresh dialog ; in addition, the plot bears certain resemblance and in similar style to ¨Tommy Lee Jones's The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada¨. This film describes the exploits of a group of travelers led by Ahmed who becomes aware of his own innate abilities and takes up the leadership of the caravan by crossing hard , steep and risky roads , including a brieg character studio of local people and an agreeable relationship among villagers . This provoking drama to be a deep reflection about the human , concerning a group of travelelers , being main aim to help a dying elderly sheikh to pass away and be buried in his native village . This charming film is a touching and sensitive adventurous drama with elevated cinematographic values . The protagonist results to be a ¨Quixote¨ who obstinately undertakes a perilous journey whose objective looks to fulfill the promise by whatever means . The movie shows the different characters and explores their apprehension , ambitions , fears and circumstances . Well played by newcomers who in spite of their unexperience give acceptable interpretations.

Good production design and correctly reflecting the atmosphere by that time and excellent location . Splendid photography with juicy atmosphere by Mauro Herce , a great cameramen of the Spanish cinema . Being appropriately filmed on location , showing one colorful filming from mountains Atlas , Ouarzazate, Aït Benhaddou, Marrakech, Morocco . Adding evocative and spiritual musical score , along with song Sinai written by Al Cisneros performed by Om ,courtesy of Drag City Records . Mimosas was originally directed by Oliver Laxe . His most succesful film is ¨Lo que arde (2019) " in Spanish,¨O que Arde¨or "What It Burns" that won several awards and nominations , such as : Cannes Film Festival 2019 Winner Un Certain Regard Jury Prize : Oliver Laxe. Chicago International Film Festival 2019 Winner Best Sound Design , best sound mixer , sound editor . Oliver Laxeis a director and actor, known for Mimosas (2016), Lo que arde (2019) and Todos vosotros sois capitanes (2010). As this ¨Mimosas¨won numerous prizes and nominations , such as : Almeria Western Film Festival 2017 Winner Grand Jury Award , Award for Technical Artistic Contribution to the Western genre sound designer Emilio García Rivas , Special Jury Award to the best Neowestern Featured Film Oliver Laxe , Best Performance Shakib Ben Omar , Best Cinematography . Mauro Herce . Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema 2017 Winner Special Mention Avant Garde and Genre Oliver Laxe. Cairo International Film Festival 2016 Winner Best Actor Shakib Ben Omar , Golden Pyramid Best Film Oliver Laxe. Cannes Film Festival 2016 Winner Critics Week Grand Prize. Festival de cine de Zaragoza 2016 Winner Special Mention Oliver Laxe. International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights 2017 Winner Youth Jury - Fiction Special Mention Oliver Laxe. Mestre Mateo Awards 2017 Winner Best Director , Best Production Manager Felipe Lage Coro, Nominee Mestre Mateo Best Screenplay.