Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets

Moroccan film, brilliantly powerful, about life of the streets for three young abandoned/runaway boys who wish to honor their dead friend by giving him a proper burial. This is not Humphrey Bogart's Casablanca; this is quite a bleak life for these kids. They sniff glue and try not to rejoin a brutal gang they want no part of. They try to avoid being raped... but sometimes it happens. Yet they have the will to survive. Depressing as it might be, the movie still has warmth and is extremely engaging. The boys' performances are out of this world good and the cinematography drew me in and never let me go. I do hope I will be watching this one again one day.

8.3 / 10 stars

--Zoooma, a Kat Pirate Screener

This movie brings back memories of growing up in morocco, although the movie puts you in the front seat of the realities in real life much of this goes ignored by the rest of the populace. The feeling is of numbness to the harsh realities that these vagabonds have to go through. Most of these kids never make it to adulthood and if they do they are seriously psychologically ill. After watching this movie you will undeniably feel resentment to society and blame yourself for being part of it. Overall I think the movie was well directed, the characters were AMAZING (I hope that they get some type of recognition) some of the scenes are beautifully shot. Vote 10+ from my part

Only seldom have I seen a movie that's so realistic. It definitely has an enlighting influence on ones mind. The way you look at the world really does change after seeing those poor and yet so, in a heart-touching way, funny streetchildren. One of my top ten movies, I assure you !!

This is definitely one of the best films that i've seen lately. It tells the story of Moroccan street children who live in the filth of the gutters of present-day Casablanca. These homeless urchins, with a few exceptions, make up a gang of at least 75-100 kids who pick pockets, sniff glue and are led by Dib, a modern-day Fagin. A band of 3 ids, following a dreamer- Ali Zaoua, splits from this gang. When Ali is killed by a kid from the gang, the story begins.

We follow these children as they try to give Ali a funeral, and what we see in their world is at times terrifying, or at least extremely upsetting and unsettling. Part of what makes the film so effective is that the children are not actors- they are real street children. they are not Hollywood's dirty Orphan Annies, in pre-stained clothing and manufactured dirt- they are real. Dib is one of the few professional actors in the film. It is at times difficult to see because of this. Still, Ali Zaoua is an extremely good and possibly great film.

perusing the local library i came across this gem.

the film was released by "filmmovement: a declaration of independents." does anyone have any recommendations for similar type films, possibly by this same publisher?

one of the most chilling, unique, and realistic parts of the film was the abrupt death of "ali" in the beginning. after my expecting of ali to be the main character, i was shocked by his death, but the children live in a merciless world. very realistic as above mentioned.

the gang slogan "life...is a pile of s**t" was a bit depressing. but the overall cheerfulness of the youngest of the three main characters kept my spirits up through the film. "show your pride"... after a goal really cracked me up.

the connection of the 2 suns to the tape in ali's house was an interesting psychological connection thrown in by the author.

my recommendation for more great foreign films: "trois couleurs" directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski and "Obchod na korze" (A Shop on Main Street) by Ján Kadár and Elmar Klos. really great stuff.