Sometimes, the stories buried the deepest are the ones that hit the hardest, revealing truths we didn’t even know we were avoiding.
Marrakech – The highly anticipated film “Mora Youchkad”, directed by Khalid Zairi, will grace cinema screens starting November 13.
Through its poignant storytelling, the film sheds light on a harrowing yet overlooked chapter of immigration history: the systematic exploitation of young Moroccan men recruited by Félix Mora.
Mora was a sergeant in the French army during the colonial era, who recruited Moroccans to work in French mines between the 1950s and 1980s.
At its core, “Mora Youchkad” unearths the untold stories of these miners. Survivors share their deeply moving testimonies, recounting the inhumane working conditions, racism, and systemic discrimination they endured.
The film revisits the forced economic exile of thousands of young men, uprooted from their homes in Morocco to toil in the coal mines of France’s Nord-Pas-de-Calais region—an existence far removed from their families and everything familiar.
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In today’s politically charged discussions surrounding immigration in Europe, Mora Youchkad delivers a timely exploration of programmed immigration.
The story examines the recruitment practices that served France’s industrial ambitions, asking viewers to reflect on the human cost of this labor.
With its stripped-back, emotionally charged cinematography, Zairi offers more than just a history lesson; he delivers a tribute to those whose contributions to French industry remain invisible yet invaluable.
Co-produced by 2M Soread and the Moroccan Cinematographic Center, the film received support from institutions such as the Francophonie Image Fund, the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME), and the French Institute of Morocco.
Its international acclaim includes selections in prestigious festivals, such as the Panorama of Moroccan Cinema at the 20th Marrakech International Film Festival, where it earned the Atlas Distribution Award.
The accolades for Mora Youchkad are numerous and well-deserved. From winning the Special Jury Prize at the 24th National Film Festival in Tangier to taking home the Grand Prize and Research Award at Nador’s International Festival of Cinema and Memory, the film has already established itself as a vital piece of cultural and historical discourse.
Through personal accounts and vivid storytelling, Mora Youchkad reconstructs a narrative long buried in the shadows of history.
Its purpose is not merely to inform but to honor the sacrifices of these men, restore their dignity, and spark a deeper conversation about the enduring impact of exploitation.
With a runtime of 87 minutes and dialogue in Tamazight, Arabic, and French, Mora Youchkad serves as both a memorial and a mirror, forcing us to confront the untold sacrifices behind progress.
