Awhile back, I wrote a brief article about the disappearing Moroccan cinema, echoing previous posts by Laila Lalami and Magharebia.com

Today, a nice Reuters article about both the history of Moroccan cinema houses and the future of the Moroccan film industry appeared.  The article, entitled “Morocco bears its soul on celluloid,” highlights recent Moroccan pictures as well as the recent closures of many single-screen theatres.

One film brought into focus by the article is the upcoming Casa Negra, directed by Nour-Eddine Lakhmari, who commented, “I think it’s about time we Moroccans are able to tell our stories, not just the stories Europeans want to see from us.  We now have an opportunity to tell the world what we really think.”

The film, which takes place in Casablanca, is about two poor young friends.  Lakhmari’s actors are children he found on the streets (an estimated 5,000 children survive on the streets of Casablanca).

As for the fear that a PJD win could mean more censure of films, Lakhmari said, “I will do whatever I want and use my camera as a political weapon to tell the world that you are what you are and no one can tell you how to live.”