The Blue Caftan is a Moroccan love story which unfolds in the shop of the married couple Halim and Mina. They own an old-fashioned caftan tailoring shop. In this store, quality is handmade, but their caftans are also more expensive than the mass-produced ones.
The couple can feel the competition, but they will not compromise neither on quality nor price and they would rather say no thanks to customers than haggle over the price.
It is Halim, who is the expert caftan tailor, and he needs an apprentice. He hires Youssef in the hope that this apprentice will stay in the shop instead of the many who have quit because working hours and pay do not match.
Youssef is a skilled apprentice. He quickly learns the many difficult stitches and the characteristics of the various fabrics. Little by little, the two men start talking to each other, although small talk doesn’t exactly belong in the tailor’s shop.
It turns out that Youssef is gay, and he begins to show an interest in Halim, who flatly rejects his advances. However, Halim is also gay himself, even though he has been married to Mina for many years. Instead, Halim must go to a public bathhouse and pay to be relieved for his sexual desires. He is ashamed of himself, and especially when he must reject Mina’s advances in the marital bed.
Youssef and Halim begin a relationship after some time, and Halim confesses to Mina in tears. However, she is very caring and understanding, as she has always known that her husband was not interested in women.
Soon after it turns out that Mina is terminally ill, and she dies soon after. The two men mutually mourn Mina’s death as they have both been very happy and dependent on her. Two men’s platonic love affair with one woman.
The Blue Caftan is a quiet and thoughtful love film that touched me. The three main actors play fantastically in this strange environment for us northern Europeans. Although the film is also a drama in many respects, it is mostly a victory for love. The Blue Caftan is a must-see film which I can wholeheartedly recommend.
The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022 and has been selected as a Moroccan Oscar candidate.
If you like my post (or perhaps not) please send me your comments!
Seneste kommentarer