Please note: This was screened in
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.
Crafted by renowned poet and screenwriter Ahmed Bouanani (1938–2011), this experimental masterpiece – the director’s first full-length film and the last he ever made – draws allusions to Morocco's rich history and oral traditions, and the ever-present spectre of colonialism. Shot in stark black and white, rich in contrast, Mirage played a pivotal role in bringing experimentation to Moroccan cinema.
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.