''The Bitter Orange'' () is a 2007 Moroccan film directed by
Bouchra Ijork
Bouchra Ijork (born 1976 in Casablanca) is a Moroccan filmmaker, screenwriter, dramatist and actress. She studied dramatic arts in Morocco, graduating from the ISADAC in 1998. She then had a brief stint playing a few roles in theater and televisi ...
starring
Houda Rihani and
Youssef Joundy set in
Asilah
Asilah (; ar, أزيلا or أصيلة; pt, Arzila; es, Arcila) is a fortified town on the northwest tip of the Atlantic coast of Morocco, about south of Tangier. Its ramparts and gateworks remain fully intact.
History
The town's history da ...
in the 1980s.
The film was first aired on television during
Ramadan
, type = islam
, longtype = Religious
, image = Ramadan montage.jpg
, caption=From top, left to right: A crescent moon over Sarıçam, Turkey, marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramadan. Ramadan Quran reading in Bandar Torkaman, Iran. ...
of 2007 on
2M.
Plot
The story of the film revolves around a girl who falls in love with a police officer who catches her picking
bitter orange
Bitter orange, Seville orange, bigarade orange, or marmalade orange is the citrus tree ''Citrus'' × ''aurantium'' and its fruit. It is native to Southeast Asia and has been spread by humans to many parts of the world. It is probably a cross bet ...
s.
The officer's marriage to someone else causes her much suffering.
Cast
*
Houda Rihani
*
Youssef Joundy
*
Abdellah Lamrani
*
Fadila Benmoussa
*
Rim Chemaou
*
Nouria Benbrahim
*
Souad Saber
*
Soumaya Amghar
*
Farida Bouaazaoui
*
Kenza Fridou
Production
Bouchra Ijork cites the support she received from
Mohamed Abderrahman Tazi
Mohamed Abderrahman Tazi (; born 3 July 1942), is a Moroccan filmmaker, screenwriter and cinematographer. One of the most revered artists in Morocco, Tazi has made several critically acclaimed films including ''6 et 12'', ''Le Grand Voyage'', '' ...
as vital.
Ijork sought to present authentic Moroccanness in all details of the film: clothing, decoration, makeup, and music.
She also cited criticisms of Moroccan love stories as lacking emotional expression as a driving source of inspiration to prove the opposite.
Influence
The film ''The Bitter Orange'' made of its stars Houda Rihani and Youssef Joundy an in-demand on-screen couple.
Soundtrack
K'lma, a duet with
Sakina Lafdaili and
Fayçal Azizi
Fayçal Azizi (; born 26 February 1986 in Tetuan) is a Moroccan actor and singer-songwriter. He's known for his song "''Werda ala Werda''" in the 2006 film '' The Bitter Orange'', his songs with the band K'lma, and his 2015 cover of the Judeo-Moro ...
, performed the song "''Warda 'Ala Warda"'' ( "Rose Upon Rose").
References
Moroccan drama films
2007 films
2007 television films
{{Morocco-film-stub