ADAM

Morocco, 2019, 98 minutes, Colour.

Lubna Azabai, Nisssrine Erradi, Douae Belkaouda, Aziz Hattab.

Directed by Maryam Touzani.

For most of this film, the baby, Adam, is in the womb. Eventually, he is born, offering a challenge to his unmarried mother, Samia.

This moving film is Samia’s story. The action takes place in Morocco, disapproval of unmarried mothers, their children stigmatised as a legitimate. Samia does not want this to be the fate of her child.

She has left home, feeling shame, no mention of the father of the child. Talented as a hairdresser, she applies for a job but is refused. She makes many requests for any kind of work. She is refused by a widow, Abia, whose daughter is attracted to Samia. Abia then relents, allowing Samia into the home, and discovering that the pregnant young woman has a talent for baking, contributing substantially to Abia’s shop and customers.

There are complications in the plot, Abia is a widow, the accidental death of her husband, evocative records that were dear to her and which she has shunned since his death. Samia wants to open up the records to her again and to get her to acknowledge and neighbour who is keen to propose to her.

The two actresses bring their characters to strong life. The daughter is also a strong presence.

The social dilemma is powerful at the end, some year wanting her baby to be adopted, and…

The director has said that the story is based on an experience, similar, in her own family home.

1. The director basing her screenplay on an actual experience? Single mothers? Forbidden in Morocco?
2. Settings, the atmosphere of Morocco, the city, the streets, homes, celebrations, and the bakery, customers, the interiors of the house? The musical score?
3. Samia and her story, age, pregnancy, unmarried, no explanation given, away from home, shame, attitude towards her unborn child, his condemnation to being illegitimate? In the city, hairdressing skills, going to the shop, not accepted, from door to door, asking for work, rejections? Asking Abia, her daughter seeing Samia, sent away, dossing down in the street, Abia and her worries, in bed, getting up, bringing her in, setting her up for some days, then asking her to leave? The daughter attracted to Samia?
4. Abia, widowed, a story of her husband going to the wharf, the accident? Her grief? The records, the popular singer, not wanting to listen after her father’s death husband’s death? Her continued work, the bakery? The attentions of Slimane? Her ignoring them?
5. Samia, in the house, baking the specialty, it being popular with customers, continuing to work, helping Abia, the meals, happy with the daughter? Eventually putting on the record, Abia’s reaction? Samia confronting her, Abia and the music, the change of heart?
6. Samia and her conversations with Slimane and, her promoting the relationship?
7. Ordinary life, the range of customers, the personalities of the shop, buying the bread and the cakes? The celebration, the traveller selling perfumes? The celebration procession?
8. Samia, the friendship with Abia, with the daughter? Giving birth, not wanting to touch the baby, the plan to give it up for adoption, the feast day, the delay? Ignoring the child crying, the concern of a beer and her daughter? Eventually breastfeeding, embracing the child?
9. Abia doing herself up, possibility for the future?
10. The plan, but Samia gathering up the child, leaving in the night – where?
11. A compassionate look to the plight of the unmarried mother in Morocco in society?