In Casablanca Angels Don't Fly by Mohamed Asli
(Morocco/Italy, 2003, 94 min, 35 mm) New York Premiere

Synopsis:

In a remote Moroccan village, the only telephone is a mobile placed high on a hilltop, so heavily pregnant Aicha rarely gets to speak to her absent husband, Said. He works for a pittance in a café in Casablanca, sending money home to support his family. Asli’s assured debut feature employs poetic flourishes and a strong non-professional cast, as well as an authentic Moroccan soundtrack, to create this tragicomic tale about economic migrants’ longings and dreams of fulfillment. In Arabic and Berber with English subtitles.

Preceded by Bahlam Beek and Weapons of Destruction

Post-screening panel discussion with filmmaker Assia Lakhlif and Habiba Boumlik (International School of Brooklyn)

Filmmaker's Bio:

Mohamad Asli was born in 1957 in Casablanca. After studying cinema in Milan, he began his career, first as an assistant cameraman and assistant director, and later on as a production executive. Asli’s specialization in production led him to establish in 2003 a cinematographic information center within Kanzaman Studios in partnership with CinéCittà . In 2004, he directed and produced In Casablanca Angels Don’t Fly .

Festivals and Awards:

• Carthage Film Festival in Tunisia, winner of the Gold Taint for best film, 2004
• Cinéma Méditerranéen Montpellier, 2004
• Cannes Film Festival, 2004
• Arabian Sights Film Festival, Washington, DC, 2004
• Chicago International Film Festival, New Directors Honorable Mention Prize, 2004
• Sale Film Festival, Morocco, 2004
• Alexandria Film Festival, first prize for best film, 2004

Print Source Information:

Dagham Films
28, rue de Terves, Anfa
Casablanca – Morocco
Phone: 212 61 208 767
Fax: 212 44 882 169
E-mail: kanzamans@yahoo.fr