Les Chevaux de Dieu

God's Horses
Director
Nabil Ayouch
Country
Morocco, France, Belgium
Year
2012
Genre
Drama, Fiction
Scriptwriters
Jamal Belmahi
Cast
Abdelhakim Rachid / Abdelilah Rachid / Hamza Souidek
Production
Les Films du Nouveau Monde / Stone Angels / YC Aligator Film / Artémis Productions / Ali n' Productions

Storyline

Yachine is 10 years old, he lives with his family in the slum of Sidi Moumen in Casablanca. His mother, Yemma, leads the family as best as she can. His father suffers from depression, one of his brothers is in the army, another is almost autistic and the third, Hamid, 13, is the boss of the local neighbourhood and Yachine’s protector. When Hamid is sent to jail, Yachine takes up jobs after jobs, though empty, to get free from the doldrums of violence, misery and drugs. Released from prison, Hamid, now an Islamic fundamentalist, persuades Yachine and his pals to join their "brothers". The Imam, Abou Zoubeir, their spiritual leader, starts to direct their long-standing physical and mental preparation. One day, he tells them they have been chosen to become martyrs. The film is inspired by the terrorist attacks of May 16th 2003 in Casablanca.

Festivals & Academy awards and others

Valladolid International Film Festival (Seminci) 2012
Golden Spike
Festival de Cannes 2012
François Chalais Award

Lumière Awards 2014
Best French-Language Foreign Film

Releases

Spain (3 of July 2015)
France (20 of February 2013)