Cinema in Marrakesh - May 2012

If you’re in Marrakech and love films, there are plenty to choose from. Helps to be francophone.
Cinéma
http://www.zwinup.com/cinema-film-marrakech
Road to Kabul, Moroccan film by Brahim Chkiri,
Saturdays, 11 a.m., 12:45 a.m.
Sundays, 11 a.m.
Weekdays : 2:15 p.m., 5 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 10:30 p.m. Cinéma Mégarama.  www.megarama.info

Street Dance, dance film
Saturdays, 11 a.m., 12:45 a.m.
Sundays, 11 a.m.
Weekdays : 2:15 p.m., 5 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 10:30 p.m. Cinéma Mégarama.  www.megarama.info

Les hommes libres, set in Paris under German occupation.
Wednesday, May 23rd at 7 p.m. Institute Français, Marrakech http://www.ifm.ma/

Fez World Sacred Music Festival

My friend, Kathy, is thrilled to be sharing the bill with Joan Baez, Björk, Wadie al Safi, Archie Shepp and other greats at Fez World Sacred Music Festival in Morocco. Her film, Pour une Nouvelle Séville, will screen June 14 in the ancient, magical, World Heritage city of Fez, Morocco.

http://www.fesfestival.com/2012/indexen.php

If you want to add Marrakesh to your trip to Fez, stay with us in the medina – in our authentic riads in the old city of Marrakech, beautifully renovated, great service and warm welcome. www.riadariha.com or www.riadchichi.com

Tetouan Film Festival in Morocco

Morocco is host to several film festivals.  We went to the Tetouan film festival in March, 2012, mainly to see the film of our good friend, Kathy Wazana, and we were delighted to also see several good films from the Mediterranean area.

The theme: Focus on the Arab Spring

Many films from various Arab and Mediterranean countries, France, Spain, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Palestine, Italy, Lebanon, Serbia, Armenia (amusing piece about a piano – another example of the importance of music in life).

A couple of outstanding examples:

Film Exit Caire from Hesham Issawi – good example of the situation leading to the Arab spring in Egypt.

A beautiful film showing the power of music was La Cinquième Corde by Moroccan film director, Selma Bergach.

Pour une Nouvelle Seville in French and They Were Promised The Sea, in English, by Kathy Wazana. Shot in Morocco and in Israel-Palestine, the film is part historical investigation, part poetic and musical essay on loss and longing, on hope and the possibilities of coexistence.

 

So now I can’t wait for the Marrakech film festival December 2^nd to 10^th, 2012.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/marrakesh-film-festival-jessica-chastain-sigourney-weaver-264654

 

Come and stay with us in Riad Ariha – get the true flavor of Marrakech and enjoy great films.

www.riadariha.com

Exhibition in Cafe du Livre Marrakesh

Visit Cafe du Livre Marrakech to see the Hands of Morocco photo exhibit, an interesting look at Moroccan culture through activities performed by hand.

One of the many skilled woodturners in Marrakech

You'll see many of these wood turners as you wander around the old city of Marrakech - noticeable by their deft use of toes to turn wood into things useful, like barbecue skewers.  Here Abdelaziz is fashioning me a good luck charm-all without electricity.

http://www.riadariha.com/the-riad-videos/in-and-around-riad-chi-chi-video-vignettes.htm

Mustafa, one of our local weavers close to Riad Ariha Marrakesh

The next in our series of mini-videos portraying life around Riad Ariha. This one is of another weaver, Mustafa, whose store is just next to the mosque ben Nasser at the parking of Sidi ben Slimane. Mustafa’s loom is 114 years old and not for sale. He considers it ‘baraka’ a blessing to allow him to earn his living. He has lovely items for sale, blankets, scarves, also embroidery and you can also have something custom-made.

In and around Riad Ariha, Marrakesh http://www.riadariha.com/the-riad-videos/video-vignettes-around-riad-ariha.htm  Scroll down to see all the videos

Mohamed, our lampshade maker for Riad Chi-Chi, Marrakech

We are often asked about the lampshades in Riad Chi-Chi – you don’t see them for sale in the souks.  So here is a small video about Mohamed, our lampmaker.  He can make what you want to-order.

He agreed to show us some of his skills - you will see lots of workshops like his as you wander the suqs of Marrakech. Later in the video, you will see another gifted craftsman fashion a beautiful copper lamp.

http://www.riadariha.com/the-riad-videos/video-vignettes-around-riad-chi-chi.htm