Sons Of The Clouds

Actor Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men, Biutiful) strives to let the world know about the forgotten struggle of the native Sahrawi people in Western Sahara. One part of this community lives in exile in the desert, while the other part is oppressed by the Moroccan regime.

After the decolonisation of the Spanish territories in North Africa back in 1975, Morocco seized the opportunity to incorporate large parts of the Western Sahara. In a ‘green march’ 350,000 Moroccan citizens went to the new occupied territories and established themselves there. This triggered a war with Algeria, following which a military defense wall was erected. This wall right through the desert divides the Sahrawi people. The Polisario Front liberation movement claims back the incorporated territory. Despite recommendations by the United Nations, Morocco still refuses to hold a referendum to determine the Sahrawi’s destiny. The documentary plainly shows how this community has become a political plaything in a struggle between North African countries and superpowers as France and the United States.

Spanish director Álvaro Longoria, co-founder of Morena Films (production company for audiovisual works), produced the movies Che and The Monk. Sons of the Clouds is his directing debut.