The Curse

Fatine is seen kissing a man. No more. Some children observe, pursue her back towards the village. They want sweets; she refuses. A boy among them says "I just saw her getting fucked"; she cannot refuse them.

Set in rural Morocco's bleak geography, both physical and cultural, The Curse is a brave piece of film-making, measured and minimal. Written and directed by Fyzal Boulifa, it is made brilliant by a fine central performance by Ibtassim Zabara. The cast are not professional actors but that, if anything, adds to the realism.

Taina Galis' cinematography and David Mason's sound help establish location, tone - all involved deserve their share of the prizes this film has won.

This is a slight, small event, with profound implications and consequences. While the picnic scene is particularly striking, there's an allusory weight to the visits to a crossroads, to the sum of 30 dirhams, to demands for Twix and Coca Cola. The Curse is an excellent short - it creates a mood, sustains it, leaves us. To produce a moment that is memorable isn't easy, but to make it haunting indicates real talent.