The Blue Caftan

In Salé, Morocco, Halim and his wife Mina have run a shop making caftans by hand for years. The work goes slowly because Halim sews every stitch himself and the customers do not like waiting. A young apprentice is taken on and Mina notices: she has known for years about her husband's interest in men and they have never spoken of it. At the same time her illness is advancing. Maryam Touzani builds the film on the silent agreement between the three and betrays none of them. Cloth, needle and the movement of a hand become the language of the story. It played in Un Certain Regard at Cannes and won the FIPRESCI prize. It was submitted as Morocco's Oscar entry. Who it is for: viewers who like quiet drama built on craft, and queer stories. Who it is not for: anyone wanting a fast narrative.