Sweat Rain
by Hakim Belabbes
Synopsis
His fruitless endeavours gradually become a metaphor for his attempts to get money to pay off his debt to the bank. If he doesn’t manage, the family is in danger of losing everything. The insecure, tense situation makes M’barek, Aida and Ayoub sorrowful, each in their own way, and they all express that in poetic voice-overs at various points in the film.
Directors’ Note of Intentions
I knew I had to tell the story of this man, or what might have been like to walk in his shoes. He was surely one of the many peasants who are caught between the pressure of debts owed to financial institutions, and the hope for “divine” rainfall. But when drought strikes, disaster usually follows.
The film does not seek to resolve conflicts in the traditional sense of any narrative structure. It rather raises questions about the difficult decisions that haunt ordinary human beings in their daily lives.
As for the filmic/visual approach to this story, I have always been inspired by the Italian neo-realism wave, and the films of Satyajit Ray, such as “The Apu Trilogy”, that tell, in all simplicity and depth, the fate of the weak and humiliated in this world; those trying to cope with destinies they have so little control over.
Therefore, the tale that has haunted me for some years now, and that is expressed in this film, is a simple story of struggle in the face of what life deals us. It is a story of ordinary people in search of a dignified life, based on hard work and integrity.
Water is the essence of life, and this element is an essential part of the narrative in "Sweat Rain ". Water is used as a literal and metaphorical element of what makes life possible in many ways. Therefore the presence or absence of water is a paramount visual platform in this story.
The visual tools I have in my possession will – hopefully – allow me to try to make the invisible, visual. Nature that surrounds the characters in this film, its movements, sounds and colors are at the center of this meditative woven attempt.
The goal for me is to express more than plot points, facts or any “intrigues” the story might contain. I'm rather obsessed with the inner worlds of the characters, their anxieties, their little moments of joy, and especially their dreams and nightmares.
Treatment
Ayoub lives in his parallel world. He is dreamy, and spends his time between the forest where he herds the small family flock of sheep, and a school where he does not seem to learn much, given his condition. Ida does her best to hold the balance within the family. In her role as a mother and a wife, she tries to alleviate her husband’s anxieties as he faces a deadline to pay his debt.
When everything fails for M’barek to find a solution to his problem, Aida suggests he go see his cousin, Omar, who may help them. But Laarbi, a friend of M’barek’s, has another idea in store. M’barek says nothing of what he plans to do. While his wife and his father both believe that he will go see his cousin to ask for a loan, he is, in fact, determined to proceed with what Laarbi advised him to do.
During the absence of M’barek, Aida’s has a miscarriage. When M’barek returns he says nothing about what happened to him. Early one morning, while he tries to resume digging his well, M’barek ends up dead in it. Ayoub tries, then, to take over, and continues his father’s work.
Short Bio
Sweat Rain (2017)
Weight of The Shadow (2014)
Defining Love: A Failed Attempt (2013)
Fragments (2011)
Boiling Dreams (2010)
These Hands... (2008)
Why O’ Sea? (2006)
Threads (2003)
A Nest in the Heat (2001)
Credits
Amine Ennaji – M’barek
Fatima-Ezzahra Bennaceur – Aida
Ayoub Khalfaoui – Ayoub
Hamid Najah – Grandfather
Moulay El-Hassan Zahraoui – Teacher
Mohammed Mahraoui Tziri – Imam
Hamid Belabbes – Bank Manager
Mohammed Nouimane – Laarbi
Othmane Ragoub – M’Qaddem
Jalal Abdelghani – Visitor
M’Barek Assam – Neighbour
Written & Directed by: Hakim Belabbes
Producer: Nabil Ayouch
Executive Producer: Amine Benjelloun
Cinematography: Amine Messadi
Editing: Hakim Belabbes, Agnes Starczewski
Script Consultants: Hammadi Gueroum, Souad Mellouk
“Whispers”: Zoubida Khallouk, Najia Bouchouka
Sound Design & Mix: Said Radi, Mark Wilkening
Post-Production & Color Grading: Peter Cohen
Music: Amir Sayed Al Hassan, Mohammed Ali Essoudani
Amine Ennaji – M’barek
Fatima-Ezzahra Bennaceur – Aida
Ayoub Khalfaoui – Ayoub
Hamid Najah – Grandfather
Moulay El-Hassan Zahraoui – Teacher
Mohammed Mahraoui Tziri – Imam
Hamid Belabbes – Bank Manager
Mohammed Nouimane – Laarbi
Othmane Ragoub – M’Qaddem
Jalal Abdelghani – Visitor
M’Barek Assam – Neighbour
Written & Directed by: Hakim Belabbes
Producer: Nabil Ayouch
Executive Producer: Amine Benjelloun
Cinematography: Amine Messadi
Editing: Hakim Belabbes, Agnes Starczewski
Script Consultants: Hammadi Gueroum, Souad Mellouk
“Whispers”: Zoubida Khallouk, Najia Bouchouka
Sound Design & Mix: Said Radi, Mark Wilkening
Post-Production & Color Grading: Peter Cohen
Music: Amir Sayed Al Hassan, Mohammed Ali Essoudani
Amine Ennaji
Fatima-Ezzahra Bennaceur
Ayoub Khalfaoui
Hamid Najah
Moulay El-Hassan Zahraoui
Mohammed Mahraoui Tziri
Hamid Belabbes
Mohammed Nouimane
Othmane Ragoub
Jalal Abdelghani
M’Barek Assam
Written & Directed by
Producer
Executive Producer
Cinematography
Editing
Script Consultants
“Whispers”
Sound Design & Mix
Post-Production & Color Grading
Music
Aida
Ayoub
Grandfather
Teacher
Imam
Bank Manager
Laarbi
M’Qaddem
Visitor
Neighbour
Hakim Belabbes
Nabil Ayouch
Amine Benjelloun
Amine Messadi
Hakim Belabbes
Agnes Starczewski
Hammadi Gueroum
Souad Mellouk
Zoubida Khallouk
Najia Bouchouka
Said Radi
Mark Wilkening
Peter Cohen
Amir Sayed Al Hassan
Mohammed Ali Essoudani
