“La Moura… Love in Times of War” by the late director Mohamed Ismail hits Moroccan cinemas
The new film “La Moura… Love in Times of War” has entered Moroccan theaters starting September 24. This is the last work of the late director Mohamed Ismail, who unfortunately did not get the chance to see his film reach the audience after a prolific artistic career. The story and screenplay were written by Mustapha Shaabi and Mohamed Amzaouri.
The film weaves a poignant narrative about a protagonist named Rosa, a young woman born and raised in Spain, far from her Moroccan roots. Rosa leads a life disconnected from her family’s history, her relationship with her father and his family shrouded in mystery and unanswered questions. At a pivotal moment, she decides to journey to Morocco in search of her past, discovering a new world that leads her to confront herself, history, and love within a tumultuous context.
“La Moura” features a stellar cast from both Moroccan and Spanish arts, including Farah Fassi, Mehdi Follane, Hajar Boulayoun, Abdelilah Ramadan, Terma Eribi, Salah Dezine, Khoutna Ramos, Farouk Aznabti, Mourad Oussadan, Mohamed Assou, Mohamed Bouglad, and Abdel Salam Sahrawi. The film combines powerful performances with a deep human dimension to craft a unique cinematic experience that touches on issues of identity and belonging while raising questions about memory and the search for self.
The film serves as an artistic and human legacy from director Mohamed Ismail, who poured all his experience and cinematic vision into this work, standing as a testament to his creativity and commitment to the seventh art.
In this context, Jamila Sadeq stated that the film is presented with a mix of pride and nostalgia. While the late director Mohamed Ismail is absent in body, his spirit strongly permeates every shot and scene in this work, which is the last he crafted with his pen and lens.
Jamila, the late director’s wife, added that “La Moura” was not merely an artistic project for him; it was a grand dream and a message he wanted to pass on to future generations—a message about identity, belonging, and love that knows no boundaries.
She indicated that she presents this film today in his name, dedicating it to everyone who worked with and supported him, believing it will grant this work a new life. She emphasized that through “La Moura,” the director will leave his eternal mark and deep love for cinema and humanity.
With the release of “La Moura” in cinemas, audiences are expected to experience an exceptional moment of visual and dramatic pleasure, along with an opportunity to celebrate the final contributions of one of the most prominent directors in the history of Moroccan cinema.
