UK Premiere: Mirage (Assarab)

Crafted by renowned poet and screenwriter Ahmed Bouanani, this experimental masterpiece draws from Morocco's rich oral traditions, and the ever-present spectre of colonialism. Set in 1947 French-occupied Morocco, Mirage follows Mohamed, a poor young farmer who finds a bag of flour full of money. In his attempt to exchange the money, he embarks on a journey that takes him through the city's dark layers and labyrinths and discovers the treasure is more curse than blessing. This 4K restoration of his only narrative feature used original 35mm elements and took four months. It focused on retaining the film's unique visual and audio identity, faithfully recreating the analogue aesthetic at the heart of Ahmed Bouanani's work. Curated by Abiba Coulibaly presented as part of Other Ways of Seeing, supported by BFI awarding funds from National Lottery. With an introduction by curator Abiba Coulibaly.