Skip to content
As Mina gets increasingly sick, her body withering away, her husband dotes on her: He washes her hair, helps her change, brings the sweetness of a fruit to her lips. But underneath the genuinely tender moments shared by this on-screen Moroccan couple simmers a longing — of a forbidden kind.
In her latest film, “The Blue Caftan,” Moroccan director Maryam Touzani delicately weaves intricate, overlapping tales of love, both traditional and largely taboo for many in her country and its region as she tells the story of a woman and her secretly gay husband who together run a shop making caftans. The marriage grows more complicated when the couple hires a male apprentice.
kAm(25:?8 :?E@ D@4:2==J D6?D:E:G6 DF3;64ED 😀 ?@E F?72>:=:2C E6CC2:? 7@C %@FK2?: H9@ 92D H@? 244@=256D 2E :?E6C?2E:@?2= 7:=> 76DE:G2=D 2?5[ ;FDE C646?E=J[ H2D 2 ;FCJ >6>36C 2E E9:D J62C’D r2??6D u:=> u6DE:G2=] “%96 q=F6 r27E2?[” H9:49 925 366? D9@CE=:DE65 😕 E96 :?E6C?2E:@?2= 762EFC6 7:=> 42E68@CJ 7@C E96 hdE9 p4256>J pH2C5D[ 😀 D4965F=65 7@C C6=62D6 (65?6D52J 😕 |@C@44@[ H96C6 82J D6I 😀 :==682=]k^Am
kAm“x’> C62==J 9@A:?8 E92E :E H@F=5 36 23=6 E@ EC:886C 2 5632E6 23@FE E96 {vq% 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 :ED A=246 …[ E9:?8D E92E H6 5@?’E 86?6C2==J E2=< 23@FE 3642FD6 E96J 2C6 D6?D:E:G6 DF3;64ED[” %@FK2?: E@=5 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD] “u@C 2 962=E9J D@4:6EJ[ :E’D :>A@CE2?E E@ 36 23=6 E@ E2=< 23@FE 6G6CJE9:?8]”k^Am
kAm$@>6 5:D28C66]k^Am
kAmx? #232E[ af\J62C\@=5 {2:=2 $29C2@F: 2C8F65 D@>6 E@A:4D 2C6 36DE =67E 369:?5 4=@D65 5@@CD]k^Am
kAm“|@C@442?D … H@CCJ E92E E96:C <:5D 4@F=5 :>:E2E6 DF49 :562D[” D96 D2:5[ 255:?8 E92E D96 H@F=5?’E H2E49 E96 7:=>] “q642FD6 @7 @FC xD=2>[ H6 5@?’E =:<6 DF49 E9:?8D 😕 |@C@44@] … xE’D 23D@=FE6=J ?@E 2AAC@AC:2E6 7@C @FC D@4:6EJ]”k^Am
kAmqFE %@FK2?:[ ca[ D2:5 @E96CD D92C65 H:E9 96C 9@H :>A@CE2?E :E H2D E@ A@CEC2J 492C24E6CD =:<6 w2=:>[ E96 9FD32?5]k^Am
kAm“|@C@44@ 😀 2 G6CJ 4@>A=6I 4@F?ECJ H96C6 E96C6 2C6 G6CJ 5:776C6?E A@:?ED @7 G:6H 4@6I:DE:?8[” D96 D2:5] “xE’D 23@FE 36:?8 23=6 E@ ;FDE AFD9 46CE2:? 3@F?52C:6D 2?5 ;FDE E@ BF6DE:@? 46CE2:? E9:?8D] ]]] %92E’D H92E 2CE 42? 96=A FD 5@ 2D H6==[ 4:?6>2 6DA64:2==J]”k^Am
kAmu:=>>2<6C }23:= pJ@F49[ %@FK2?:’D 9FD32?5 H9@ 4@\HC@E6 “%96 q=F6 r27E2?” H:E9 96C 2?5 😀 :ED >2:? AC@5F46C[ D2:5 96 😀 4FC:@FD 23@FE >@G:68@6CD’ C624E:@?D[ 3FE 766=D 4@?7:56?E]k^Am
kAm“%96C6’D 2 J@F?86C 2?5 J@F?86C 2F5:6?46 2?5 E96J H2?E E@ D66 ?6H EJA6 @7 >@G:6D[ ?6H EJA6 @7 4:?6>2D 😕 E96 pC23 H@C=5[” 96 D2:5] “%96 >@C6 4@?D6CG2E:G6 2F5:6?46 H:== AC@323=J ?@E 36 G6CJ A=62D65]”k^Am
kAm!2CE @7 2CE’D C@=6[ pJ@F49 D2:5[ 😀 E@ 5:DEFC3[ E@ DE:C 5632E6]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 96 H6=4@>6D E96 C64@8?:E:@? E96:C >@G:6D 82C?6C 23C@25[ 96 D2:5 :E’D :>A@CE2?E 7@C 7:=>D =:<6 “%96 q=F6 r27E2?” 2=D@ E@ 36 6IA6C:6?465 3J 2F5:6?46D 2E 9@>6 2?5 😕 E96 pC23 H@C=5]k^Am
kAmu@C E9@D6 92G:?8 E@ Q=:G6 E96:C D6IF2=:EJ D64C6E=J[” 96 D2:5[ “7:=>D =:<6 E9:D @?6 42? 8:G6 E96> D@>6 4@FC286 E@ 7246 H9@ E96J 2C6 >@C6 AF3=:4=J]”k^Am
kAmx? “%96 q=F6 r27E2?[” |:?2[ E96 H:76[ 92D 2 D6?D6 @7 9F>@C 2?5 2 76:DEJ D:56 E92E D96 FD6D E@ AC@E64E 96C 9FD32?5[ H9@ 4@?D:56CD 96C 9:D “C@4<]” $96’D 2? @3D6CG2?E |FD=:>j G:6H6CD C6A62E65=J H2E49 96C AC2J]k^Am
kAmw2=:> 😀 2 >2? E@C?] w6 92D 2 86?E=6 D@F= 2?5 E2<6D AC:56 😕 9:D 4C27E — 4@CC64E:?8 2 4FDE@>6C @? 2 723C:4’D 6I24E D9256 @7 3=F6 — H9:=6 42E6C:?8 E@ D9@AA6CD 😕 2 492?8:?8 H@C=5[ H:E9 =:EE=6 A2E:6?46 7@C E96 E:>6 96 E2<6D E@ 6>3C@:56C 3J 92?5] w6 =@G6D 9:D H:76[ 6G6? 2D 96 D=:AD :?E@ 2 423:? 2E 2 AF3=:4 32E99@FD6 7@C D64C6E D6IF2= 6?4@F?E6CD H:E9 >6?]k^Am
kAm$6IF2= E6?D:@? 3F:=5D FA 36EH66? 9:> 2?5 E96 >2=6 2AAC6?E:46[ *@FDD67] pD |:?2’D 962=E9 72=E6CD[ *@FDD67 :?4C62D:?8=J 96=AD E96 4@FA=6 2?5 2 =@G6 EC:2?8=6 @7 D@CED 6?DF6D]k^Am
kAm&=E:>2E6=J[ %@FK2?: D2:5[ :E’D 2 >@G:6 23@FE “=@G6 😕 :ED >2?J 7@C>D]”k^Am
kAm%92E :?4=F56D =@G6 7@C E96 EC25:E:@?2= 4C27E @7 427E2? 6>3C@:56CJ[ H:E9 D6?DF2= D46?6D @7 723C:4D 2?5 DE:E496D]k^Am
kAm“~?6 @7 E96 E9:?8D x H2?E65 E@ D9@H 😕 E9:D 7:=> 😀 E96 362FEJ @7 46CE2:? EC25:E:@?D[” D96 D2:5] “%96C6 2C6 @E96C EC25:E:@?D E92E … ?665 E@ 36 BF6DE:@?65[” D96 25565[ 4:E:?8 D46?6D H96? w2=:> 492==6?86D D@>6 3FC:2= C:EF2=D]k^Am
kAmx? @?6 D46?6[ w2=:> 2D<D 7@C |:?2’D 7@C8:G6?6DD[ E6==:?8 96C E92E 2== 9:D =:76 96 92D EC:65 😕 G2:? E@ 86E C:5 @7 “E9:D E9:?8]” $96 E6==D 9:> D96’D AC@F5 E@ 92G6 366? 9:D H:76[ E96? C6DED 96C 9625 @? 9:D D9@F=56C]k^Am
kAmq6:?8 2 H@>2? @7 72:E9 5:5?’E DE@A |:?2 7C@> F?56CDE2?5:?8 96C 9FD32?5[ %@FK2?: D2:5]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 E96 E6?56?4J @7 D2J:?8[ ‘(6==[ :7 J@F 2C6 C6=:8:@FD[ E96? J@F 42??@E 36 E9:D @C J@F 42??@E 36 E92E]’ x 36=:6G6 E92E H6 42? 36 >2?J E9:?8D 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6 3642FD6 H6 2C6 DF49 4@>A=6I 36:?8D]”k^Am
kAm$>2:=[ 2 |@C@442? {vq%” C:89ED 24E:G:DE H9@ :56?E:7:6D 2D ?@?3:?2CJ[ D2H E96 >@G:6 23C@25 2?5 D2:5 :E D9@H65 E92E “=@G6 😀 7@C 6G6CJ@?6]” pD<:?8 E@ 36 :56?E:7:65 3J 7:CDE ?2>6 @?=J 5F6 E@ E96 D6?D:E:G:EJ @7 E96 E@A:4[ $>2:= 25565i “(96? H6 25G@42E6 7@C >@C6 A6CD@?2= 7C665@>D 😕 |@C@44@[ H6 962C E92E E96 A6@A=6 H@?’E 2446AE E92E ]]] 3FE E9C@F89 |:?2’D 6I2>A=6[ H6 92G6 2 8=:>>6C @7 9@A6 3642FD6 |:?2 😀 @?6 @7 E96 A6@A=6]”k^Am
kAmp9>65 q6?496>D:[ 2 DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C wF>2? #:89ED (2E49[ D2:5 E92E H9:=6 E96 ?F>36C @7 E9@D6 AC@D64FE65 7@C 82J D6I 😕 |@C@44@ “:D C6=2E:G6=J =@H” 2?5 E96 E@A:4 @7 9@>@D6IF2=:EJ 😀 =6DD @7 2 E23@@ E96C6 E92? :E FD65 E@ 36[ “E96 =2H 😀 DE:== E96C6 2?5 :E 92?8D @G6C E96 9625D @7 6G6CJ3@5J]”k^Am
kAm~?=:?6[ 367@C6 E96 |@C@44@ C6=62D6 @7 “%96 q=F6 r27E2?[” D@>6 AC2:D65 %@FK2?:’D H@C< 2D A@H6C7F= 2?5 >@G:?8j @E96CD 244FD65 96C @7 4@FCE:?8 E96 (6DE 2?5 42E6C:?8 E@ :ED D6?D:3:=:E:6D @G6C :DDF6D >@C6 C6=6G2?E E@ |@C@442?D]k^Am
kAm“x 5@?’E >2<6 4:?6>2 E@ A=62D6 2?J3@5J[” %@FK2?: D2:5] “x ;FDE H2?E E@ 36 2D ECFE97F= 2D A@DD:3=6 E@ >J 492C24E6CD 2?5 E@ E96 DE@C:6D x H2?E E@ E6==]”k^Am
kAm%@FK2?:’D 762EFC6\7:=> 5:C64E:?8 563FE[ “p52>[” E6==D E96 DE@CJ @7 EH@ H@>6? H9@D6 =:G6D :?E6CD64E H96? @?6 E2<6D 😕 E96 @E96C[ 2? F?>2CC:65 DEC2?86C H9@’D =@@<:?8 7@C 2 A=246 E@ DE2J F?E:= D96 8:G6D 3:CE9 27E6C 86EE:?8 AC68?2?E] $96 E2=<D 23@FE A=2?D E@ 8:G6 2H2J 96C 323J E@ D9:6=5 9:> 7C@> E96 DE:8>2 E92E H@F=5 @E96CH:D6 >2C 9:D 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAmxE H2D :?DA:C65 3J %@FK2?:’D A2C6?ED 9@DE:?8 2 H@>2? H9@ D9@H65 FA 2E E96:C 5@@CDE6A F?56C D:>:=2C 4:C4F>DE2?46D] (96? %@FK2?: H2D AC68?2?E H:E9 96C D@?[ D96 76=E “E96 G:@=6?46” E92E E96 H@>2? 6?5FC65 😕 92G:?8 E@ C6=:?BF:D9 96C 323J 3642FD6 “D@4:2==J D96 4@F=5?’E 5@ @E96CH:D6]”k^Am
kAmqC@249:?8 E@A:4D “F?DA@<6? @7 😕 pC23 2?5 xD=2>:4 D@4:6E:6D” 😀 @?6 4@>>@? E9C625 36EH66? “p52>” 2?5 “%96 q=F6 r27E2?[” D2:5 7:=> 4C:E:4 r96CBF: p>6FC]k^Am
kAm“(6 9@A6 E@ 92G6 76H6C E23@@D 😕 @FC D@4:6EJ E9C@F89 5:D4FDD:?8 2== :DDF6D[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmx? a_`d[ “|F49 {@G65[” 2 >@G:6 5:C64E65 2?5 HC:EE6? 3J pJ@F49[ 😕 H9:49 %@FK2?: H@C<65 😕 G2C:@FD 42A24:E:6D[ H2D 32CC65 7C@> C6=62D6 😕 E96 4@F?ECJ] pFE9@C:E:6D 2E E96 E:>6 492C865 E92E E96 >@G:6[ A@CEC2J:?8 76>2=6 D6I H@C<6CD[ H2D @776?D:G6 E@ |@C@442? H@>6? 2?5 G2=F6D] %96 >@G:6[ 6I46CAED 7C@> H9:49 2AA62C65 @?=:?6[ DA2C<65 FAC@2Cj :E H2D 5676?565 3J D@>6 @? 7C665@> @7 6IAC6DD:@? 2?5 9F>2?\:?E6C6DE 8C@F?5D 2?5 4C:E:4:K65 3J @E96CD H9@ D2:5 :ED =2?8F286 H2D 4CF56 2?5 D46?6D E@@ 6IA=:4:E]k^Am
kAmq@C? 😕 %2?8:6C E@ 2 |@C@442? 72E96C 2?5 |@C@442?\$A2?:D9 >@E96C[ %@FK2?:[ 2? 2G:5 C6256C[ DEF5:65 ;@FC?2=:D> 😕 {@?5@? 3FE 6G6?EF2==J EFC?65 E@ 7:=>>2<:?8]k^Am
kAm$96 D2:5 D96 8C2G:E2E6D E@H2C5 E6==:?8 DE@C:6D @7 A6@A=6 @? E96 >2C8:?D] ~? E96 D4C66?[ D96 H2?ED E@ 8:G6 E96> E96 G@:46 E96J >2J ?@E 92G6 2?5 E96 A@DD:3:=:E:6D E92E >2J ?@E 6I:DE 😕 C62= =:76]k^Am
kAm“%96D6 2C6 E96 A6@A=6 E92E :?DA:C6 >6[ E92E E@F49 >6[ E92E 92F?E >6[” %@FK2?: D2:5] “%96D6 2C6 E96 A6@A=6 E92E C62==J >2<6 E96:C H2J :?D:56 >J 962CE 2?5 DE2J E96C6 ?2EFC2==J H:E9@FE >6 =@@<:?8 7@C :E]”k^Am
k9C ^m
kAmpDD@4:2E65 !C6DD C6=:8:@? 4@G6C286 C646:G6D DFAA@CE E9C@F89 E96 p!’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3:E]=J^2A\EH:CQm4@==23@C2E:@?k^2m H:E9 %96 r@?G6CD2E:@? &$[ H:E9 7F?5:?8 7C@> {:==J t?5@H>6?E x?4] %96 p! 😀 D@=6=J C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C E9:D 4@?E6?E]k^Am
