Hip-Hop
The title of this month’s presentation, Casablanca Beats, directed by Nabil Ayouch, translates from the Arabic ali sawtek as, ‘Raise Your Voice’. Based on his own experiences, Ayouch’s film seeks to do just that, as it follows the fortunes of a former rapper working to inspire a group of underprivileged children to express themselves in the styles and attitudes of hip-hop and the liberating power of rap-all set against the background of contemporary, strict, highly religious, Moroccan society.
Shot at Les Etoiles de Sidi Moumem, a cultural centre that Ayouch co-founded in 2014, the film was the first Moroccan entry for the 2021 Cannes Palme d’Or since 1962 and was also selected as the Moroccan entry for the Best International Film award at the 2021 Oscars.
In the broader musical context, ‘gatekeeping’ by the major record labels, with their commercial agendas and vested interests, has lead to hip-hop to drifting away from its original subversive roots, and its ability to educate as well as entertain. Advancing a voice for hip-hop within this skewed framework, a film like Casablanca Beats, with its focus on music as enlightenment, inspiration and salvation, becomes vital essential viewing.
The screening will be charged at our usual rate of £7.00, which includes £1.00 membership fee.
To access Abbey Cinema’s booking page for Casablanca Beats, please use the following link
https://theabbey.ac/web?film=63ea68746afb0427bdea8ec2
Then select 7.30pm GUILDHALL where you can make your booking.
More information about the booking process and our current programme schedule can be found by searching under ‘About Us’ on the ABCD website,
For this screening, a member of our Front of House team will be on hand to assist anyone who wants to see the film but has not been able to book online. NB payment by card only.
A Programme Note for the film has been produced and is attached to this Newsletter-it can be accessed via the link at the bottom of the page, and provides a descriptive context to film you are about to see, plus technical credit details and ‘trailers’ for forthcoming films.
Please use your Reaction Slip for comments on the film-and any other points about ABCD you may wish to make. They will be published on the Website in due course.
Note:
If this is the first time you have received an ABCD Newsletter and would like to find out more about the Film Society, please contact our Membership Secretary by Emailing info@abfilms.org.uk
http://abfilms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ABCD-Prog-Note-Casablanca-B-ex-MJ-300323a.pdf