versionAng2

Opening film
Mille mois
by Faouzi Bensaidi
Morocco, France, Belgium - 2003 - 2h04
In the early 80s, Amina moves to a village in the heart of the Atlas Mountains with her 7-year-old son, Medhi. The boy thinks his father is off working in France, but he's really been thrown in jail for political reasons. As a model student, Medhi earns the privilege of looking after the teacher's chair - an honour reserved for the head of the class. Medhi watches over it night and day, but his role awakens the jealousy of his classmates.

Closing film
France Boutique
by Tonie Marshall
France - 2003 - 1h35
France and Olivier have been married for ten years. Together they are the star hosts of a home-shopping show they created. But things are growing stale for the couple - off-screen as well as on - and what's more their ratings are down. They manage to find a partner in Sofia who runs an internet sales firm. Sofia's main interest, however, is merely speeding along their downfall and taking over their air time.

Face à face
by Abdelkader Lagtaâ
Morocco - 2003 - 1h41
Kamal is a young engineer working on the project of a large dam. During the construction, he realises that the plans have been modified in favour of individual interests, all without his knowledge. When he adamantly makes his opposition known, he finds himself transferred to the desert town of Errachidia. But due to a series of misunderstandings, he has to leave before he can say goodbye to his wife. Years later, she heads off in search of him.

Les Bandits
by Said Naciri
Morocco - 2003 - 1h45
Didi, a clever young pickpocket, manages to steal an old man's wallet. But the old man notices and chases after the thief. He's struck by how closely Didi resembles his nephew who's disappeared in the US without a trace, leaving his sister Ghita as the sole heir when their father passed away. Now everyone who knew the deceased is trying to swindle the young woman out of her inheritance. Ghita's uncle hopes that in passing Didi off as her brother, he'll be able to get rid of all the scammers.

Hero
by Zhang Yimou
Hong-kong - 2002 - 1h38
Two thousand years ago, China was broken into seven kingdoms that clashed in merciless wars of hegemony. The king of the northern province of Qin proved the staunchest combatant. When his adversaries sent three of the most feared assassins to eliminate him, the king promised power and wealth to whoever managed to slay the killers. For ten years no one succeeded. But when a mysterious horseman turned up bearing the weapons of the vanquished assassins, the king was impatient to hear his story.

Le Chien, le général et les oiseaux
by Francis Lielsen
France, Italie - 2003 - 1h15
To save Moscow from Napoleon's army, a Russian general decides to set birds on fire and send them to burn the city. His plan works; the French troops beat a hasty retreat and he becomes a national hero. But years later he's tormented by the haunting memory of the flaming birds. Every day feathered creatures come to attack him, seeking vengeance for their ancestors. Luckily, a chance encounter with an extraordinary dog finally enables him to make ammends.

Le Royaume des chats
by Hiroyuki Morita
Japon - 2002 - 1h15
Nothing's going right for Haru. First she wakes up late and doesn't make it to school on time. Next she gets humiliated in front of Machida, the boy she has a crush on. But then on her way home she sees a cat about to get run over by a truck and manages to save him. Turns out he's a Prince in the kingdom of cats, and is now indebted to her. He showers her with gifts and invites her to his kingdom where she's expected to become the Prince's wife. But does she really want to?






International Film Festival Of Marrakech Out of Competition 2003 Opening film Mille mois by Faouzi Bensaidi Morocco, France, Belgium - 2003 - 2h04 In the early 80s, Amina moves to a village in the heart of the Atlas Mountains with her 7-year-old son, Medhi. The boy thinks his father is off working in France, but he's really been thrown in jail for political reasons. As a model student, Medhi earns the privilege of looking after the teacher's chair - an honour reserved for the head of the class. Medhi watches over it night and day, but his role awakens the jealousy of his classmates. Closing film France Boutique by Tonie Marshall France - 2003 - 1h35 France and Olivier have been married for ten years. Together they are the star hosts of a home-shopping show they created. But things are growing stale for the couple - off-screen as well as on - and what's more their ratings are down. They manage to find a partner in Sofia who runs an internet sales firm. Sofia's main interest, however, is merely speeding along their downfall and taking over their air time. Face à face by Abdelkader Lagtaâ Morocco - 2003 - 1h41 Kamal is a young engineer working on the project of a large dam. During the construction, he realises that the plans have been modified in favour of individual interests, all without his knowledge. When he adamantly makes his opposition known, he finds himself transferred to the desert town of Errachidia. But due to a series of misunderstandings, he has to leave before he can say goodbye to his wife. Years later, she heads off in search of him. Les Bandits by Said Naciri Morocco - 2003 - 1h45 Didi, a clever young pickpocket, manages to steal an old man's wallet. But the old man notices and chases after the thief. He's struck by how closely Didi resembles his nephew who's disappeared in the US without a trace, leaving his sister Ghita as the sole heir when their father passed away. Now everyone who knew the deceased is trying to swindle the young woman out of her inheritance. Ghita's uncle hopes that in passing Didi off as her brother, he'll be able to get rid of all the scammers. Hero by Zhang Yimou Hong-kong - 2002 - 1h38 Two thousand years ago, China was broken into seven kingdoms that clashed in merciless wars of hegemony. The king of the northern province of Qin proved the staunchest combatant. When his adversaries sent three of the most feared assassins to eliminate him, the king promised power and wealth to whoever managed to slay the killers. For ten years no one succeeded. But when a mysterious horseman turned up bearing the weapons of the vanquished assassins, the king was impatient to hear his story. Le Chien, le général et les oiseaux by Francis Lielsen France, Italie - 2003 - 1h15 To save Moscow from Napoleon's army, a Russian general decides to set birds on fire and send them to burn the city. His plan works; the French troops beat a hasty retreat and he becomes a national hero. But years later he's tormented by the haunting memory of the flaming birds. Every day feathered creatures come to attack him, seeking vengeance for their ancestors. Luckily, a chance encounter with an extraordinary dog finally enables him to make ammends. Le Royaume des chats by Hiroyuki Morita Japon - 2002 - 1h15 Nothing's going right for Haru. First she wakes up late and doesn't make it to school on time. Next she gets humiliated in front of Machida, the boy she has a crush on. But then on her way home she sees a cat about to get run over by a truck and manages to save him. Turns out he's a Prince in the kingdom of cats, and is now indebted to her. He showers her with gifts and invites her to his kingdom where she's expected to become the Prince's wife. But does she really want to?