It is by this sentence that Moroccan director Maryam Touzani concluded the presentation of her film Adamjust before its world premiere projection in the Un certain view section of the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.
Myriam was very moved, much more than she imagined she said. Moved to meet there, and that her film was selected at the Cannes Film Festival, but also moved to finally be able to tell this story that she has worn in her for very long years, and to have been able to find a way to translate into images what she felt deep inside, especially since her own pregnancy.
Maryam Touzani presents his film Adam
Adam was born from a painful meeting which left in Maryam indelible footsteps. Indeed, when she was young, her parents had welcomed a young pregnant woman, abandoned by a man who had promised her marriage. She was fleeing her village and family during her pregnancy. This young woman, who had stayed at home until she gave birth and who wanted to give her baby to be born by adoption, inspired the character of Samia of the film.
The film will tell the meeting of Samia (Nisrin Erradi), single and pregnant, with Abla (Lubna Azabal), a young widow who could not mourn.
The two women are very different from each other, but are both prisoners of their stories. Samia is trapped in her pregnancy, of this being who forms in her, that she feels, who moves in her, but which she refuses. She refuses it because she wants to live, because she wants to return to her parents, because she wants to lead a normal life, that she wants to get married, to start a family. But how could she with this fatherless child?
Abla is trapped in his mourning. Mourning that she does not want to do. Since the brutal death of her husband, closing on herself, she forgot to live, limiting herself to accomplishing her duty towards her 8-year-old daughter, but refusing all pleasure and being afraid of others.
These two women will meet. Each of them will bring a lot to the other, transform it, make it evolve. Between them, links are formed….
Samia, with her good humor, her sensuality, her smile, her joy of life despite everything, will come out Abla from her sadness, will relearn him to live, to feel things, to listen to music, to feel beautiful and alive … Samia who nevertheless has to face this unwanted pregnancy and despite all her problems and her uncertain future, always keeps a smile and good humor. Samia who accepts her femininity. Samia who accepts her sensuality. Samia who has a carnal relationship with music, with objects and even with the dough she kneaded to make her pastries …
Abla, on the other hand, will offer Samia a family life, help her accept her maternity and weave links with her baby …
Samia (Nisrin Erradi) in the film Adam
A film all in sensations and emotions. Emotion that has reached her climax in an incredible intensity scene when Samia will force Abla to listen to a song of Warda that she adores but that she has refused since the death of her husband. In spite of herself, Abla rediscovers her forgotten sensations in violence. She refuses to listen to music, but her senses betray her….
Very beautiful images, touching characters. Two dazzling actresses in the correctness of their game. Close -ups on the faces, on the bodies…. Maryam Touzani was able to capture and film their thoughts, their feelings, their hesitations, their questions, their tightness….
At the end of the projection, a standing ovation of a good fifteen minutes. The spectators were still in love.
Adam is the first feature film fiction of Myriam Touzani, co -written with her husband the filmmaker Nabil Ayouch. As such, he also contributes to the Prix de la Caméra d’Or which rewards the best first film.
SYNOPSIS In the Medina of Casablanca, Abla, widow and mother of an 8 -year -old girl, holds a store of Moroccan pastries. When Samia, a young pregnant woman strikes her door, Abla is far from imagining that her life will change forever. A fortuitous meeting of fate, two women on the run, and one way to the essentials.
Neïla Driss
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