Archive of films Miscreants / Les Mécréants

Morocco / Switzerland
2012, 88 min

Section: Forum of Independents - Competition
Year: 2012

On the orders of their spiritual leader, three young Islamists kidnap a troupe of young actors. When the extremists arrive at the specified place of detention, they find themselves cut off from their base. The two very different groups are forced to live together for a period of seven days during which any sense of certainty is destroyed on both sides. They may have differing views but could they have something in common as well?

Synopsis

On the orders of their spiritual leader, three young Islamists kidnap a troupe of promising actors. When the extremists arrive at the specified place of detention, they find themselves cut off from their base. Besri’s drama, which deals with the thorny issue of Islamic radicalism, places in one corner men convinced of the legitimacy of their violent struggle, and in the other a company of young individuals who, thanks to their artistic disposition, are more inclined towards an open-minded view of the world. Both groups are confronted with the advent of the modern world but each takes its own stand. Seven days of forced seclusion destroy any sense of security they might have had. Then come the doubts and the uncertainty, but also the knowledge that people have a lot in common despite their differences. Mohcine Besri successfully develops a story that gives even the radical Islamists a human face without acquiescing whatsoever in their depraved thinking.

About the director

Mohcine Besri (b. 1971, Mèknes, Morocco) studied physics and chemistry at Rabat University and also took on minor roles in several films. He continued his studies in Switzerland, where he also worked in the financial sector and taught mathematics. He began his filmmaking career as a screenwriter and assistant director. In 2006, he made the short film Kafka, Dead or Alive and, a year later, he turned out another short, Heaven, awarded at the Cinéma tous écrans festival in Switzerland. He wrote the script for the second season of the serial "Heidi” (2008), produced by Swiss TV, and co-wrote the screenplay for the feature Operation Casablanca (dir. Laurent Nègre, 2011). The Miscreants is his first foray into feature film as a screenwriter and director.

Contacts

Tamawayt Productions
Imb 17, Avenue Al Abtal, Apt 12, Agda, 101 06, Rabat
Morocco
Tel: +212 661 068 805
E-mail: [email protected]

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About the film

Color, DCP
International premiere

Section:	Forum of Independents - Competition

Director:	Mohcine Besri
Screenplay:	Mohcine Besri
Dir. of Photography:	Pascal Montjovent
Music:	Philippe Héritier
Editor:	Naïma Bachiri
Producer:	Mohcine Besri
Production:	Akka Films, Fusion Films
Cast:	Jamila El Haouni, Maria Lalouaz, Omar Lotfi, Amine Ennaji, Abdenbi El Benioui, Mostapha El Houari, Aïssam Bouali, Rabii Benjhail
Contact:	Tamawayt Productions

Guests

Mohcine Besri

Film Director / Producer, Film Director / Producer

Michel Merkt

Producer