Ali Zaoua

In the context of Arab cinema, Nabil Ayouch's Ali Zaoua, Prince of the Streets breaks new ground in presenting the world of street children. At the same time his portrayal of their world stands in distinct contrast to that offered by classic representations emanating from other regions. Violence in Ali Zaoua remains limited and originates among the children. Neither public authorities nor individual adults victimise these children; rather adults sympathetic to the children are shown helping them escape their condition. And while Ayouch does portray street life as harsh and precarious, he avoids miserabilism by giving play to a poetics of childhood that finds expression in the daydreams of the children. Working with street children, Ayouch succeeded in eliciting performances that give psychological depth to his protagonists. The excellent cinemascope production is enhanced by delightful animation sequences of the children's dreams. Ayouch created a beautiful and enchanting film that emotionally engages viewers and elicits their sympathy for the condition of street children, all the while eschewing social critique. A big success at home, Ali Zaoua became the most successful Moroccan film ever internationally

Aesthetics · Art · Context (archaeology · Literature · Media studies · Movie theater · Poetics · Poetry · Sociology · Sympathy · Gender Studies · History · Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies · Middle East Politics and Society · Psychology · Social Psychology · Urban and Rural Development Challenges

• Bringing into focus narrative text and subtext in Moroccan film

  Safoi Babana-Hampton•The Journal of North African…•2010

  Incluir item