By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Abdellah Taïa
Starring: Amine Ennaji | Frédéric Landenberg | Hamza Slaoui | Karim Ait M'Hand | Malika El Hamaoui | Said Mrini
Original language title: L'armée du salut
Country: france, morocco, switzerland
Year: 2015
Running time: 81
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3016266/combined
Kyle says: “SALVATION ARMY is a re-working of the autobiographical novel also written by Abdellah Taïa, who is making his directorial debut with this film. The first mainstream gay Moroccan film, Taïa tells the story of growing up poor and gay in Morocco. Surrounded by sisters and older women, young Abdellah seeks out furtive sex encounters with strangers or local acquaintances and even cherishes masculine influence in fondling and sniffing bedding and clothing of his older brother Slimane. Mother urges Abdellah that ‘Slimane has to stay ours’ even as she knows he is lost to them. Slimane embraces learning French, telling Abdellah ‘It can help you to succeed’ but it is clear that knowledge of French also aids immeasurably in maintaining Slimane’s sense of inherent male superiority. Abdellah seeks more than mere sex, although Taïa is clear about the camera’s rapt contemplation of the developing body and skin of the young boy.
“When the story moves ahead ten years, Abdellah is breaking off a relationship with an older man, to whom he says he is now ‘Free of Morocco, free of you.’ While it is virtually always the case that in such relationships, the younger man dictates the rules of the game, usually getting exactly what he wants, Taïa leaves open the issue of the nature of their relationship. Abdellah has at the least acquired a passport and visa through his relationship with the older man, but lacks a place to live. He stays at the local Salvation Army while deciding what to do, and in the final scene, he acquires a roommate who sings a song to him which poignantly reminds him of the Morocco of his childhood — the same song we heard at the beginning of the film. Although the two actors who play Abdellah look very different, the director has created a physical connection in the fact that each moves slowly, deliberately, even sadly, but definitely similarly. Abdellah has the tools to start a new life and now must learn to use them.
“Special mention must be made of the exquisite cinematography by Agnes Godard, whose sense of composition and use of color is astounding. In the Q & A, Taïa related that Godard accepted the assignment immediately, although she knew nothing about Morocco. The two had to find solutions by going to the Morocco Taîa wanted, which meant no Tangiers, among other things. He called Godard ‘a warrior’ who was fearless about her work, and he felt blessed to have her work on the film. So are we. 4 cats
“Seen Thursday, March 27, 2914, New Directors/New Films at the Walter Reade Theater, Film Society of Lincoln Center, New York.”