Much Loved

Much Loved (also known as Zin Li Fik) is a 2015 French-Moroccan drama film directed by Nabil Ayouch about the prostitution scene in Marrakesh.[2] It was screened in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.[3] The film has been banned in Morocco for alleged "contempt for moral values and the Moroccan woman".[4] It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.[5]

Much Loved
Film poster
Directed byNabil Ayouch
Written byNabil Ayouch
Produced bySaïd Hamich
Eric Poulet
Nabil Ayouch
StarringLoubna Abidar
Asmaa Lazrak
CinematographyVirginie Surdej
Edited byDamien Keyeux
Music byMike Kourtzer
Production
company
Distributed byPyramide Distribution (France)
Release dates
  • 19 May 2015 (2015-05-19) (Cannes)
  • 16 September 2015 (2015-09-16) (France)
Running time
108 minutes
CountriesMorocco
France
LanguageMoroccan
Box office$1.3 million[1]

It is one of the first films to address the issue of prostitution in Morocco. Following the lives of four female sex workers, it brings to the forefront the exploitation of prostitutes by pimps, and the corruption of the police who sometimes even profit from the trade. The film stirred a national debate before it was released when dailies with sexual content were stolen and leaked on the web. The lead actress received death threats, and religious authorities condemned the film for portraying a negative image of Morocco, with its portrayals of extramarital sex and sympathetic views towards homosexuals.[6]

Cast
  • Loubna Abidar as Noha
  • Asmaa Lazrak as Randa
  • Halima Karaouane as Soukaina
  • Sara Elmhamdi Elalaoui as Hlima
  • Abdellah Didane as Said
  • Danny Boushebel as Ahmad

Production

Loubna Abidar deceived the filmmaker Nabil Ayouch during the casting process, going so far as to disguise herself as a prostitute to pass the casting.[7]

Accolades
Award / Film Festival Category Recipients and nominees Result
César Awards[8] Best Actress Loubna Abidar Nominated
Lumières Awards[9] Best French-Language Film Won

References
  1. "Much Loved". Box Office Mojo.
  2. "Cannes Film Review: 'Much Loved'". Variety. 27 May 2015.
  3. "Cannes: Directors' Fortnight Unveils 2015 Lineup". Variety. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  4. "Morocco Bans Nabil Ayouch's Cannes Title 'Much Loved'". The Hollywood Reporter. 29 May 2015.
  5. "Sandra Bullock's 'Our Brand Is Crisis,' Robert Redford's 'Truth' to Premiere at Toronto". Variety. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  6. chronicle.fanak.com. "Controversial Sex Worker Drama 'Much Loved' Opens Debate about Prostitution in Morocco". fanack.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  7. "Femme marocaine et libérée… Loubna Abidar, dérangeante icône !". lavoixdunord.fr. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  8. "'Golden Years,' 'Marguerite,' 'Dheepan,' 'Mustang' Lead Cesar Nominations". Variety. 27 January 2016.
  9. "Prix Lumières 2016 : Trois souvenirs de ma jeunesse et Mustang en tête des nominations". AlloCiné. 4 January 2016.


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