Casa is a monster,if you don't fight it,it will eat you.These are the words that most Casaouis say about their city. This movie was made for the sole purpose to explore is this saying true? I'll leave you the judge of it. Bienvenue à Casa !
Context
"Casanegra, the dark house" Throughout the movie , no one ever contradicts the term , no one tries to defend Casa, the only comment we get is"It's not your's,you are illiterate"by karim to adil when the latter said the word.( For those who don't know Casablanca means the white house). For many who live in this city, it's bad to live in it, but it's worse to leave it. It's like we have a toxic relationship with this city, we don't love it but we won't leave it. From Dizzy Dro's cazafonia to Ouidad's Casa , everyone feels the same , is it a coincidence or we all have the symptoms to a Casa-Syndrome?
Story
The movies story is about two friends, Karim and Adil. Two unemployed young man navigating the streets of casa for money , but they end up finding more.Let's dive into this thriller who is considered one of the best in Moroccan cinema.
Karim
22 years old , choumour ( means unemployed , but it's used as an insult too),wearing a suit, karim runs a small cigarette selling operation using two kids.During the movie we understand that Karim's family needs him, after his father handicap, he's the one to provide now.He tries to work at his father's old job but is chocked by 50DH a day,he now is put between two paths: either continue selling cigarettes or work for zrirek (a notorious gangster).Karim has a desire for peace,he wants a stable life where he provides for his family and continues admiring the wealthy owner shop lady, Nabila.
Adil
While Karim desires peace, Adil desires Malmö, a city in Sweden. He can do anything for it, the burners(the original term is 7eraga, a north maghreb word that means those who risk their lives to go to europe) told him he needs 60 000DH. Karim goes to the furthest far to get it, to zrirek.
Haitam
A minor character that loves his turtle, his is always holding it and taking care of it, maybe even more than himself. although his is a minor character he reveals a lot
- Haitam-Adil when they first meet, Adil pushes and swears at him , mimicking zrirke's personality, but when he saves haitam's turtle risking his own life falling from the building, we understand that Adil is not a bad person, he is just the essence of those who surround him: His abusive father, the gangster zrirk,the ruthless burners.
- Haitam-Karim the latter is kind to haitam all the movie, it shows that karim even tho karim is surrounded with a dark setting, he still tries to keep light in him.
Zrirek
"Hello,Hello,My name is zrirek" Throughout the movie zrirek keeps repeating this rythme, mocking karim's envy to learn english. He uses it to celebrate his power,he is the face of Casanegra, he does nothing to change the system, he is the system. For zrirek, Dogs are better than humans, speaking in english, studying in Lycée Lyautey are all luxurious things that only filthy rich people are worthy of. When Adil expresses his desire to go to Malmö, Zrirek says "Makaynchi 7sen mn lblyda" At least he is a local, there he is just another arab . We see that Zrirek has a lot of money but he won't leave Casa nor Morocco, He knows the way arround, he will not exchange it for the unknown. Here he uses people's fear of him so they would respect him. Even tho he defends his country but he mocks it as well saying that everyone wants to be in casa, it's like they enter his home "Fin gadi? ldar lbayda"
Adil’s motherr
A minor character too. Her name isn't known because she represents a lot of women in Morocco/Arab Countries. Even tho her husband beats her, she resists and continues living with him, not for her but for her children. The chocking moment is when Adil beats his father back with a vase defending his mother, the latter defends him even scolds him. We understand that the father for her represents security, for her it's a choice of either her family is together and she is beaten, or they are thrown out to the streets and she is beaten there.
Adil's stepfather
His name isn't known because he also represents a lot of Moroccan/Arab men, look around you and you'll find a name for him. His life consists of 3 things: Drinking,Beating,Jerking. He isn't much different from an animal, he not only needs to be in control but seen in control. Because he is nothing without it, if he doesn't beat his wife and Adil, he will only be that man in the corner. I don't feel disgusted of him, I feel empathy for him. Much like Rachid in the book A Thousand Splendid Suns.
Nabila
Karim's first love and the owner of an art shop, Maybe that's why karim wants to learn english, to elevate himself to her. She likes karim because of his looks, a nice young gentleman with a suit and a beautiful smile willing to help her move her statue and even fights for her in the bar when she is sexually assaulted. But when when the stage curtains open and the act drops, Karim's cigarette children recognize him and tell him of their news in front of her. That's the last time he saw her.
El Hajj
You know that this is 2026, workers here still work with 50DH a day, the movie was made in 2008. It was nothing back then, imagine now. Who is responsible for this? people like "El Hajj" the term is uses to designate someone who went to the pilgrimage in Mekka,Saoudi Arabia. In Morocco it is used to desginate wealth and power, most of the times people who are called El Hajj have never even been there. He is Called in the movie like that for a reason, look around you'll see why. He uses people's poverty for his advantage, you either work or there are millions willing to work for 50DH. That's their excuse.
The End
At Last , Zrirek dies,karim changes suits,Adil changes destination and Casanegra stays the same.
Tribute
The Marvelous Actor Mohammed BenBrahim returns to his god in 2013 at the age of 64 after a long battle with illness. May God have mercy on you.