Casting Inshallah

Review by: Laura Robinson

The short
It’s a documentary offering an inside-look into the lives of the residents of Ouarzazate, a town known as the “Hollywood of Morocco”.

The long
Moroccan filmmaker Sana El Younoussi’s 2011 film dives into the southern Morocco desert-town known for being the location of many high-profile international film and television productions. As the backdrop for Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, Babel, The Mummy, and even some scenes from Game of Thrones (just to name a few), Ouarzazate is likely a town you’ve seen on the big screen before-- but few know about the intricacies of life in “Morocco’s Hollywood”. With scenic Kasbahs and versatile desert landscapes, Ouarzazate and its movie studios are the dream-come-true for directors and hopeful Moroccan actors alike. El Younoussi’s documentary explores the role of the film industry in the town, and elucidates disparities between large-budget star-studded productions and the lifestyle of local Ouarzazate residents and their generational work in the industry.

To watch or not to watch?
An especially worthwhile watch if you’re a film-buff or GoT fan. This is a quick and informative watch to offer some new context to your favorite films.