Bouchra

Watched at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.

Imagine Chantel Akerman, but with 3D Halo Style animation about a lesbian furry, mother and daughter relationship, and it's weird, yet actually emotional and fun. Bouchra basically sums that up.

What directors Orian Barki and Merrier Bennani succeeds is using animation, documentary style filmmaking, and interesting explorations about it's themes in a unique approach. Blending these elements together offers a fun and emotional experience about family bonds, queer identity, and the world of Moroccan culture. Many of the animation moments, designs and textures are beautiful, bright and purposeful. Using animation to experiment and work through different forms of storytelling is a real achievement to animation, as I love to see animation used in different ways.

Throughout, the main subject named Bouchra on her relationship with her mother and her environment is well-explored and interesting. It allows the viewers to get into her world, her personality and understand her as a human and being. Implemented with some really good voice-over discussions, sound designs, and really creative structures and presentation. Although, some of the animation movements did feel a little too robotic which made some of the design moments feeling clunky.

With good pacing, direction, and music displayed, it's quite a groundbreaking and unique animation documentary that I really liked. As someone who is a furry, queer and had encounters in my life with my family, this movie does hit quite close to me.