Watch A Thousand Months

A Thousand Months, released in 2003, is a French-Moroccan drama film directed by Faouzi Bensaïdi. The film stars Fouad Labied, Nezha Rahile, Mohamed Majd in the leading roles. The story takes place in the 1970s in a remote village in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. It explores the world of an innocent boy, who comes to the village to live with his mother and his grandfather during the month of Ramadan, and the events he witnesses that shape his coming of age.

The story opens with young Mouloud (played by Mehdi El Kourti) traveling with his mother Aicha (played by Nezha Rahile) to his grandfather's village. Aicha is estranged from her husband and has been living in the city, but she returns to her village to ask for her father's support in a difficult situation. Mouloud, who is unaware of the gravity of the situation, is just excited to be spending time with his grandfather (played by Mohamed Majd), whom he has never met before.

The village is a world apart from the urban life that Mouloud is accustomed to. It is a place that retains traditional ways of life and mute religious values. The film delves deep into the everyday life of the village, making the audience partake in the rituals and customs of the village people during the holy month of Ramadan.

As Mouloud spends time in the village, he slowly starts to realize that something is bothering the adults, but they are careful not to talk about it in front of him. His inquisitive nature leads him to overhear conversations, from which he takes away bits and pieces of information that, as he gathers it, begins to form an incomplete picture. It is a coming of age story that captures the essence of a boy's curiosity, imagination, and the ache of not understanding the adult world.

Mouloud meets several characters in the story that leave a lasting impression on him. One of them is his grandfather's friend, who is a local teacher and activist for the village's rights. He is actively involved in the community's affairs and regularly meets with the other men of the village to discuss village issues. Mouloud is fascinated by the stories and the passion with which his grandfather's friend speaks, and his infectious love for books and education.

Throughout the film, the boy is trying to solve the mystery of what is happening in his village, and when he finally found out, it revealed to him a world of adult issues that he is not yet ready to handle. The climax of the story is the emotional peak where Mouloud's innocence is broken, and a rite of passage ensues, marking his growing up.

The movie is an excellent commentary on the life and culture of Morocco in the 1970s. It provides an excellent glimpse into the traditional way of life of the people in the mountainous regions and how the community worked together to solve problems. The film is beautifully shot, capturing the mood of the village and its people.

In conclusion, this is a movie that has a warm, nostalgic feel, touching the heartstrings of the audience with its endearing and sympathetic characters. The cast perfectly portrays the village's nuances, and the direction of Faouzi Bensaïdi pulls off this heartfelt and well-crafted film. It is not only an individual story of Mouloud's growth, but also a universal portrait of a village and its people.