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CineMAfriq Film Series

An archive and resource for films discussed as part of the BU African Studies Libraries' CineMAfriq Film Series.

Tazzeka (Morocco, 2018)

Link to film (BU Login required) 
A young man's passion for traditional Moroccan cuisine--nurtured throughout his childhood in his home village of Tazzeka, where his beloved grandmother patiently taught him how to cook--drives him to Paris to try to become a chef in the gourmet cuisine capital of the world. The going is not easy.

Director of photography, Rémi Mazet ; original music, Simon Mimoun, Chadi Chouman. Madi Belem, Abbes Zahmani, Ouidad Elma, Olivier Sitruk, Adama Diop, Khadija Bouzekri, Zaid Panzi, Abdellah Ifer, Elouafi Elghoulami.
(Arabic and French dialogue with English subtitles.)

(95 minutes) 

Discussion Questions:

  1. Did you enjoy this movie? What did you like best about the movie? What did you like least? Why? 
     

  2. Does this movie convey a message? What is it? 

  3. What does the film communicate about the social, cultural and even emotional role of food? .

  4. Was there anything you didn’t understand about the film? 

  5. For any language learners among us, were you able to understand the Arabic? French? Were there aspects that made it uniquely Moroccan? Did the subtitles do it justice? 

  6. Is anyone from Morocco among us? Any thoughts on how the place and culture are depicted? 

  7. What are your thoughts on what France means to the characters, and does it change?

  8. What are you thoughts about France as a center for and arbitrator of good cuisine?

  9. The film does not include how Elias reached Paris. Do you think that this was element to the story that should / should not have been left out? 

  10. What are your thoughts on how migration was portrayed in this film? Do you think this might be an accurate depiction of the immigrant experience in Paris? 

  11. What did you think of the ending? Thoughts? Should there be a sequel? 

     

Cast of Characters

Elias - the main character, he dreams of becoming a world class chef.

Salma - sent from Paris to stay with her uncle's family, Salma chafes at life in Morocco; shop owner

Mama - Elias's grandmother

Youssef - Shopkeeper/restaurant owner in the tiny town of Tazzeka; he hires Elias &  despite his strict manner, he really cares for him.

Julien Blanc - a famous Parisian chef, host of a TV series called 'Super Chef' 

Souleymane - Senegalese immigrant in Paris who befriends Elias.