Two Arab movies push the bounds of cultural candor

Nevertheless, in its uncensored state, Shadi and the film's creators agree, "The Yacoubian Building" may well offend and anger Egypt's government and public alike. Religious fundamentalists might complain about its portrayal of Islam, they say. Others might argue that it shows a bad image of Egypt. Some may be scandalized by the film's homosexuality.

Like "The Yacoubian Building," "MaRock" was given the green light by state censors. According to Karim Boukhary, a writer for a French-language weekly news magazine, this decision is part of Morocco's liberalization under the young King Mohammed VI and reflects "an official policy of the Moroccan government to tolerate a real margin of liberty in creative fields."

Abdelilah Benkirane, a member of parliament for the Islamist opposition Justice and Development Party, sees it differently. For him, the decision was taken by people who think that "to fight Islamism, young people have to be drenched in an atmosphere of debauchery."

"MaRock" director Leila Marrakchi, who now lives in France, says the film is based on her adolescence. "These are things that I lived or anecdotes that friends told me. The film isn't autobiographical, but it's personal. It's something I know."

The film chronicles the lives of rich Casablanca teenagers who drink alcohol, smoke hashish, and make out in cars. It breaks a whole list of cinemagraphic taboos. The heroine Rita refuses to fast during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, and has a relationship with a Jewish boy.

Well before the film came out in cinemas, it was already part of the ongoing debate between Morocco's secular and liberal forces and its Islamist groups. The film's supporters have championed it as evidence of growing freedom of speech.

"In Morocco in 2006 a lot of things happen that aren't talked about and that aren't shown, that may be contrary to Islamic laws and social conventions," says Mr. Boukhary. "We don't talk about these things because they're taboo, because we're afraid. This movie contributes to provoking a debate. And it's a justified and salutary debate."

But the film's detractors have criticized it for wounding and ridiculing Moroccan's religious feelings. "This film shocked the entire population," says Mr. Benkirane. "It doesn't deserve to be seen and shouldn't be authorized in a Muslim country."

The Justice and Development Party has asked the government to ban the film. "There's a law in this country," says another member of parliament for the Islamist party, Abdel-Kater Amara. "There's a very clear law. We can't authorize films that attack the religion of Moroccans. They have to apply the law."

Ms. Marrakchi says the controversy over her film has taken on proportions she never expected. "My point wasn't to provoke or shock," she insists. "I wanted first of all to tell a story, knowing well that there were sensitive subjects." And, she says, "People should watch it before boycotting it. They should talk about the movie, not everything surrounding it."

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