Watch Little Birds

Based on several short stories of Anais Nin, Little Birds is a six-episode drama series that follows the lives of wealthy and glamorous expats living in Tangier, Morocco in 1955. The show captures the chaos, charm, and complexity of the city as it transitions from being an International Zone to a sovereign Moroccan territory.

The story revolves around Lucy Savage (Juno Temple), an American virgin who gets married to Hugo Cavendish-Smythe (Hugh Skinner), a British diplomat, but quickly realizes that she has fallen into a restrictive and oppressive marriage. As she tries to find her identity, Lucy embarks on a journey of sexual and cultural discovery that challenges her idea of love, loyalty, and freedom.

The show's other pivotal character is Cherifa Lamour (Yumna Marwan), a Moroccan dominatrix, sex worker, and former prostitute, who is fighting to gain custody of her young son Anwar, from her abusive ex-husband. Cherifa's story adds a layer of social commentary on the country's gender and power dynamics and how it affects women living on society's margins.

Little Birds is a sumptuous and stylish production that has been praised for its excellent cinematography and attention to detail in recreating the era's fashion, architecture, and music. The series offers a voyeuristic glimpse into the hedonistic and exotic world of Tangier's elite, where love affairs, drug-taking, and political intrigue are commonplace.

Aside from the protagonists' stories, the show features a wide range of supporting characters that add depth and color to the narrative. There's Lucy's best friend Adham Abaza (Raphael Acloque), an Egyptian prince, who is battling his own demons and identity crisis. There's also Leo (Rossy de Palma), the eccentric and flamboyant mother of Hugo, who is dealing with her aging and fading beauty.

The series explores themes such as colonialism, racism, religion, class, and sexuality in a layered and nuanced way, without being didactic or preachy. It also highlights the tensions and conflicts between the conservative Muslim culture and the bohemian, liberal subculture that coexists in the city.

One of the show's strengths is its cast, especially Juno Temple and Yumna Marwan, who give compelling and nuanced performances in their respective roles. Temple portrays Lucy Savage with a mix of vulnerability, naivety, and rebellion, and manages to convey her character's mixed emotions and desires. Marwan, on the other hand, shines as Cherifa, bringing humanity, strength, and sensuality to a character that could have easily turned into a caricature.

Little Birds is not a show for everyone, as some viewers might find its pacing slow and its characters morally ambiguous or unsympathetic. However, those who appreciate character-driven dramas, atmospheric settings, and complex storytelling will find it a worthwhile watch. It's a show that rewards patience and attention, and that leaves room for interpretation and reflection. Ultimately, Little Birds is a compelling and engaging portrait of a place and a time that is both foreign and familiar, exotic and unsettling.