The Blue Caftan

Halim and Mina run a caftan store in Salé, Morocco. In their caring relationship, they have a wordless understanding about Halim’s homosexuality. But their fine balance is disturbed by the arrival of young apprentice Youssef and by Mina’s illness. Delicate and visually gorgeous, like the caftan in its title. 
 
Halim (Saleh Bakri) is a maalem, a master tailor of the old school. He doesn’t use a sewing machine, works at his own pace and has a craftsman’s appreciation of fabrics, threads and beautiful embroidery. Just as careful as he approaches his work, he guards his inner life. He and his wife Mina (an incredible Lubna Azabal) love each other deeply. But there is one subject both of them deal with on their own: Halim’s homosexuality. In bath houses, Halim finds anonymous encounters with other men – apart from that, he guards his secret tightly. 
 
When Youssef starts to work as an apprentice in Halim and Mina’s store, it is clear the two men are attracted to each other. At the same time, Mina’s lingering illness worsens. It makes all three of them carefully explore what lives in their hearts. Beautiful, delicate feature by Maryam Touzani (Adam).