© Insight Films
“The Mother of All Lies” by Moroccan filmmaker Asmae El Moudir is a masterfully crafted, intimate, and personal experimental documentary. With a meticulous handmade set and figurines, El Moudir dives deep into her family’s history in the Casablanca neighborhood, seeking to heal past wounds and strengthen family bonds. This in-depth exploration of family dynamics explores the indelible mark of the past on our characters and relationships. This immaculate project earned the film a Best Director accolade at this year’s Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section.
Original Title: كذب أبيض / Kadib Abyad
Directed by: Asmae El Moudir
Year: 2023
Country: Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt
Length: 96 minutes
The film’s foundation lies in El Moudir’s pursuit of understanding: Why was there only a single childhood photo of her? The revelations come thick and fast – a picture-averse grandmother, Zahra, deeming photos as haram, and a mother, Ouarda, concealing truths about her family’s identity. These revelations serve as a catalyst for El Moudir to uncover a bunch of long-suppressed family truths and emotions.
As the audience is guided through an apartment and neighborhood via a meticulously crafted scale model, El Moudir crafts a narrative with her family members and neighbors. Here, they unveil their closely guarded secrets. Employing figurines crafted by her father, the film creatively retraces episodes from their lives, touching on pressing topics from the 1981 bread riots and political suppression to societal gender roles and the overarching influence of religion on personal liberties.
Despite its severe themes, “The Mother of All Lies” is a stylistically playful, inventive exploration of memory, history, and trauma. While reminiscent of techniques used by Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh, this documentary’s figurines serve a purpose beyond mere reenactment. They bridge the gaps where photos and archival materials fall short and provide subjects with an interactive medium to recount their tales. This is particularly palpable when Saïd, a former protester, re-enacts his post-riot incarceration and torture.
El Moudir presents us with an ensemble of personalities: the dominant grandmother, Zahra; the rebellious neighbor, Abdallah; activist Saïd, who remains politically active; the free-spirited aunt, Fatima; the artistically inclined cousin, Naima, and more. We gain insights into their convictions, aspirations, and fears through their stories, which also tell us more about Moroccan culture and history. These narratives show the profound impact of our backgrounds, choices, and secrets on our lives, emphasizing the potential for growth, acceptance, and hope.
“The Mother of All Lies” is exceptional in the way it navigates family secrets and a country’s past with unmatched originality. More than simply a document, it serves as a project dedicated to collective healing.
“The Mother of All Lies” screened at the 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival
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