HORSES OF GOD / NABIL AYOUCH

10-year-old Yachine lives with his family in the Sidi Moumen slum in Casablanca. His mother leads the family as best she can. His father suffers from depression, one of his brothers is in the army, another is almost autistic and the third, Hamid (13), is the neighbourhood boss and Yachine’s protector.

When Hamid is sent to jail, Yachine takes job after job, however hopeless, to try and lift himself up from the violence, misery and drugs that surround him. Released from prison, now an Islamic fundamentalist, Hamid persuades Yachine and his friends to join their “brothers”.

The Imam - their spiritual leader - starts to direct their arduous physical and mental preparation. One day, he tells them they have been chosen to become martyrs.

HORSES OF GOD was inspired by the terrorist attacks of May 16th, 2003 in Casablanca.

Director:  Nabil Ayouch

RT: 113 mins