Mohammed Miftah Movies
- 2007
A girl learns that talent doesn't always trump one's station in life in this period drama from Morocco. Oud L'Ward (Sanaa Alaoui) is a young woman who is sold into slavery near the dawn of the 20th Century. Along with Dow Sbah (Hanane Zouhdi), Oud has become the property of a wealthy landowner (Mohamed Miftah) who is also a talented musician. Oud's master soon discovers she can play the lute, and he begins giving her lessons on the instrument. Oud reveals herself to be a virtuoso instrumentalist, which pleases her master since slaves with musical talent fetch more in the marketplace. Before long, Oud develops an impressive reputation for her skill with the lute, but her master becomes disenchanted when he realizes her talent and fame has outstripped his own. One night, Oud's master rapes her during a fit of rage, and she becomes pregnant; Fdila (Touria Jabrane), who looks after housekeeping, has never cared for Oud, and sees an opportunity to punish the girl when she forces Oud to have an abortion, which has grim consequences for the young musician. The Lost Beauty was originally released in Morocco and other Middle Eastern territories as Oud l'Ward. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sanaa Alaoui, Mohammed Miftah, (more)
The blurry line between a rumor and the truth is stretched to the breaking point in this drama. Three arrogant and self-centered college students, Jones (Lena Headey), Derek (James Marsden), and Travis (Norman Reedus), are brought together for a class project, in which they decide to start a rumor and keep track of how it spreads. Looking for possible gossip material, they see Naomi (Kate Hudson), a girl known for her high-minded views on saving sex for marriage, drunkenly making out with Bo (Joshua Jackson) at a party. The three students begin passing around the rumor that Naomi became a victim of date rape later that evening, embroidering the truth with allegations that Bo forcibly seduced Naomi after she was too inebriated to put up a fight. Before long, the rumor makes its way back to Naomi herself, who suffered a black-out on the night in question after too much alcohol. Naomi panics, and convinced that the rumor is true, contacts the police, who assign Detective Kelly (Sharon Lawrence) to investigate the charges of rape filed against Bo. Featuring a cast of young actors best known for their work on television, Gossip was an appropriate first feature film for director Davis Guggenheim, who previously distinguished himself on such TV series as ER, NYPD Blue, and Party of Five. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Bogosian, Marisa Coughlan, (more)
- 2000
Justice battles with political pragmatism in this drama from Morocco. A powerful and respected lawyer with political ambitions makes a disturbing discovery about his irresponsible teenaged son: the boy brutally raped a 13-year-old girl, the sister of the family's housekeeper. While he's troubled by the knowledge of his son's crime, the attorney tries to keep the sordid event a secret, certain it would be fatal to his career if the story became public knowledge. While the housekeeper is deeply upset by the consequences of the rape -- the victim has since lost the ability to speak -- she also opts to keep quiet about the attack, convinced the lawyer could use his connections to prevent the imminent release of her husband from prison. The housekeeper's brother, however, is outraged by the crime and the lawyer's unwillingness to do anything about it, and he decides to take the law into his own hands. Produced, directed, and co-written by Jillali Ferhati, Tresses was shown in competition at the 2000 Turin Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mohammed Miftah
- 1998
This fact-based French-Moroccan film won the "Best First Feature" award at the 1997 Cairo Film Festival. After U.S. training, ophthalmologist Taoufik returns to Casablanca to launch a practice with his wife Sophia. At a luxury Tangier hotel, he is drugged while Sophia is abducted, raped, and left in the street. Carrying his brother's gun, Taoufik gets a hotel staffer to lead him to the kidnappers. After shooting a man who turns out to be with the police, the couple flee from corrupt cops, and a chase is conducted over the countryside with Taoufik holding the key evidence -- a videotape of the rape. The title translates as "predestined." Shown at the 1998 Rotterdam Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rachid El Ouali, Amal Chabli, (more)
- 1998
Alessandro D'Alatri directed this Italian drama about Jesus Christ, covering his childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood, an 18-year span not chronicled in the Bible. The film uses names of the period instead of names given in the Bible. The adult Jeoshua (Kim Rossi Stuart) reflects on past events -- his journey into the desert, baptism, acceptance into the Essenes' community, Jewish life in Galilee, his yeshiva studies, education from his father Josef (Omar Chenbod), and his spiritual growth. After seeing slavery, crucifixions, the stoning of an adulteress, and brutal Roman soldiers, Jeoshua turns to God for answers, leaves the village, and is betrayed by his friend Aziz (Said Taghmaoui), who leaves him to die in the desert. Issues such as carnality bring Jeoshua in conflict with the Essenes, yet he speaks out on behalf of the Essene David (popular Italian singer Lorenzo Cherubini). Journeying forth once more, Jeoshua rejoins his cousin Jochannan (Boris Terral), later known as John the Baptist, who recognizes Jeoshua's link to God. Shot in the Moroccan desert by lenser Federico Masiero, the film combines chants, vocals, and Middle Eastern-styled music by Pivio and Aldo De Scalzi. Shown at the 1998 Venice Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kim Rossi Stuart, Saïd Taghmaoui, (more)
- 1997
Anxious to escape the clutches of Section One without being "canceled" in the process, Nikita (Peta Wilson) is open to the plan being hatched by a fellow operative. If all goes well, Nikita and her comrade will be able to flee without danger, and their files will be completely eradicated. Will Nikita's ethics -- not to mention her feelings for Michael (Roy Dupuis) -- impede her escape attempt? And is it possible that the entire plan is a mere sham, cooked up as a loyalty test by Section One? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peta Wilson, Roy Dupuis, (more)
- 1994
The attempts of a Muslim immigrant to bring his second wife from Algiers to Italy are chronicled in this Italian drama. In the Italian Constitution, article 2 allows citizens the freedom to practice their religion. Said, a factory worker in Milan, lives with his first wife Malika, and their three children in a small apartment. They are all Muslims. His second wife Fatma, stayed in Algeria to take care of his ailing father. When he dies, Fatma wants to join Said in Italy. But when she finally arrives with her three sons, the authorities will not allow her into the country as bigamy is illegal. But under Islamic law it is legal. The Italian government, despite article 2, is not sympathetic to Said's situation. Said fights for his second wife, but is at first, appalled to learn he has been assigned a female lawyer. Will he win the case? ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mohammed Miftah, Rabia Ben Abdallah, (more)
