chargement...
Director, screenwriter, and actor Faouzi Bensaïdi's fifth feature film, «Jours d'été» (Summer Days), is slated for nationwide release on September 25, 2024. A Moroccan adaptation of Anton Chekhov's renowned play «The Cherry Orchard», this cinematic masterpiece is a dramatic comedy that delves into themes of intrigue, manipulation, passion, thwarted love, generational clashes, and the revealing of long-held truths.
The film follows Jalila (Mouna Fettou), a woman who returns home from a prolonged absence abroad with the intention of saving her family's estate. She is joined by her younger brother Kamal (Faouzi Bensaïdi) and older sister Aïcha (Nezha Rahil). The narrative contrasts nostalgic memories of carefree times and past splendor with the harsh reality of a ruined family.
Surrounding them are relatives and household employees, some harboring vengeful intentions and sinister designs. The family must also contend with the schemes of an unexpected character who promises to transform their final summer days into a new beginning.
Filmed in the picturesque landscapes of Tangier, the film features characters who express themselves through their emotions. The cast includes Mouhcine Malzi, Nadia Kounda, Abdou Taleb, Hasnaa Moumni, Mohamed Choubi, Noureddine Saadane, Saïd Bey, Abderahim Samadi, and Mostapha Haouchine.
With a background in dramatic arts, director Faouzi Bensaïdi transitioned to cinema while remaining deeply influenced by the work of Anton Chekhov. The play that inspired this film served as a catalyst for his cinematic endeavor. While teaching an acting workshop at the Marrakech School of Visual Arts (EAV), Bensaïdi suggested bringing in professional actors to provide students with firsthand observation opportunities. This experience sparked the genesis of his film.
«I realized that something was taking shape», he recalls, «and I began to explore the possibility of finding a producer to bring this vision to life».
