A THOUSAND MONTHS

Faouzi Bensaïdi

morocco france belgium germany 2003 124 min

Morocco 1981 during the holy month of Ramadan. Amina moves with her seven-year-old son Mehdi into the home of her father-in-law Ahmed in a village in the Atlas Mountains. Mehdi believes that his father has gone to work in France, unaware that he is actually in prison. Amina and Ahmed maintain this secret to protect him from the truth. As Mehdi discovers the world around him through school friendships and village life he gradually grows up in a community marked by hardship tenderness and unspoken truths.

• About the film

  Original title Mille Mois

  Directed by Faouzi Bensaïdi

  Screenplay Faouzi Bensaïdi

  Featuring Fouad Labied Nezha Rahil Mohamed Majd Mohammed Afifi Mohamed Bastaoui Abdelati Lambarki Mohamed Choubi

  Cinematography Antoine Héberlé

  Editing Sandrine Deegen

  Sound Patrice Mendez

  Production Companies Agora Films Gloria Films Entre Chien et Loup Soread Studio El Orch RTBF ZDF

• Festivals & Awards

  Festival de Cannes
  2003 | Un Certain Regard
  Awards: Prix Le Premier Regard; Prix de la Jeunesse

  Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur (FIFF)
  2003 | Compétition officielle
  Award: Bayard spécial du jury

  Beirut International Film Festival
  2003 | Feature Competition
  Award: Best Director — Faouzi Bensaïdi

  Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
  2003 | Planet Africa

  San Sebastián International Film Festival
  2003 | Amongst Friends and Neighbours — North African Open House

  Montreal World Film Festival
  2003 | African Cinema

  Miami Film Festival
  2004 | Official Selection
  Award: Grand Jury Prize

  Istanbul Film Festival
  2004 | From the World of Festivals

  IFP Los Angeles Film Festival
  2004 | International Showcase

  Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival
  2004 | French Film Selection