Soif

In a classic and epic form, Soif has three stories to tell: that of the Moroccan battle against French colonial domination, that of a desert village and its battle for water and the story of Moh and Menna as they fight for each other. The title does not only refer to the thirst for water, but also to the thirst for freedom and love.It is 1954, the country is dry, many inhabitants of the countryside have left for the city. Moh decides to act and starts sabotaging the water pumps. The nationalist resistance movement is eager to use his rebellion. When Moh is caught, he is not just punishable for blowing up the pumps, but his deed is also regarded as betraying his employer and protector, a French lieutenant. His arrest and the drought awaken nationalist sentiments and the situation in the village is in danger of escalating.Soif is a sensitively photographed and often poetic film, in which the red-brown earthly tints of the dry land contrast starkly with visions of lush green fields. The French colonial authorities are not written off as villains who oppress the people, but that does not detract from the fact that inadequate communication and cultural differences – portrayed wryly and amusingly – make the contact difficult.