Baya Al Maut (2011) Poster

(2011)

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6/10
Could've been better.
Mohamed_Z483 May 2021
Trying a new directing techniques, the story, the acting, were all good specially in a the Moroccan film industry, but that ending was a little bit disappointing.
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7/10
"Death for Sale: A Glimpse into Moroccan Cinema's Dark Realities, With a Mix of Conviction and Confusion"
ba_mhd1725 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Death for Sale explores themes of despair, crime and extremism, but its narrative structure can leave viewers confused by the sudden twists and turns, particularly the juxtaposition of suicidal thoughts. On the plus side, Malek's character gives a compelling and engaging performance, and carries the film effectively. However, the chemistry between Dounia (Iman Al-Moucharafi) and Malek lacks conviction, with Iman Al-Moucharafi's character feeling cold and affecting the overall dynamic, making her the weakest element of the film.

The scene of Allal being hung from a tree by high school students raises questions about its necessity, as the graphic depiction seems exaggerated and out of place. There is a need to explore more precise ways of conveying Allal's transformation without resorting to such a scene.

In conclusion, "Death for Sale" gets a 7 from me, given the current state of Moroccan cinema. It stands out as a better choice compared to other local films, reflecting my hope to tell improved and impactful stories in the Moroccan film industry.
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10/10
Visually Captivating
madcatz13 September 2011
I had the pleasure of watching this film at TIff. I had no idea what it was about when going in, therefore I had no expectations. It was my first film from the director, so I did not know what to expect. Visually, this film was beautiful. A lot of the times, director Faouzi Bensaidi used just images to capture a scene's moment with no dialogue needed. It was powerful, simple, and complete. In fact, most of the scenes between the Malik and his girlfriend had little or no words. The power of emotion was captured simply by looks and glances. This is what made the story so much more powerful and leaves us stunned at the end. The story itself was a well told story about 3 boys who are trying to survive in Morocco. It was very well acted and the film gave us a glimpse of what life in Morocco is really like. It tied in local customs to the story and touched lightly upon religion. What I liked was how they had 3 clear views on religion in this movie, but it was presented in such a way, that you did not feel that this movie was only about that. Very much a film noir with a powerful story, beautiful visuals, amazing editing, this is a film that should be watched.
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