Horses of God

Horses of God is a poignant, chilling film from 2012 based on a harrowing true event that occurred in Casablanca in 2003. Directed by Nabil Ayouch, this Moroccan drama offers an intimate look into a world seldom seen, that of extreme poverty and its role in fostering extremism. The film is a profound and detailed examination of our contemporary world, as it tells a hauntingly horrific story in an appealing and accessible manner.

The narrative is primarily set against the backdrop of an increasingly troubled and highly volatile part of the world – a shanty town named Sidi Moumen, located on the outskirts of Casablanca. It's a bleak and desolate region that seems miles away from the vibrant, cosmopolitan city, tucked in isolation, deep in squalor and poverty.

The film follows the lives of its four main characters: Yachine, Hamid, Nabil, and Fouad, portrayed by Abdelhakim Rachid, Abdelilah Rachid, Hamza Souidek, and Ahmed El Idrissi El Amrani respectively. All the actors deliver heart-rending performances, with Abdelhakim Rachid and Abdelilah Rachid bringing a haunting authenticity to their roles, while Hamza Souidek and Ahmed El Idrissi El Amrani break hearts with their gut-wrenching performances.

The initial part of the film narrows its focus on the years of childhood, capturing the camaraderie and complex relationships, the games, dreams, and aspirations - a simple yet effective portrayal of an innocent childhood amidst hardships. The children have no access to running water, regular school, or healthcare, yet the director, and by extension, the film's audience - witnesses the laughter, defiance, and strength of spirit that emerges from the heart of this community.

As they grow older, their lives start to take on much darker paths. Hamid, Yachine’s older brother, turns delinquent and is sent to prison, where he's radicalized. A few years later, he returns to their neighborhood, where he starts to indoctrinate the others. The transformation from young, naive boys to young adults ready to commit horrendous acts of violence is terrifying, unsettling, and tragically believable.

Horses of God blends raw naturalism with a compelling and suspenseful narrative. Director Nabil Ayouch crafts some truly devastating scenes where the poverty and existential despair converge into a chilling sense of hell on earth. His careful depiction of the slums, filled with stark detailed images is essential to the message of the film. In these claustrophobic alleys and abandoned buildings, characters are shown to be products of their environment, their lives shaped by the circumstances out of their control.

The narrative also masterfully captures the process of indoctrination, highlighting the powerful effect of manipulative persuasion on vulnerable minds. The film illustrates how religion, when twisted and used as a tool of manipulation, can push individuals towards violence. It does this with a sensitive approach, being wary of vilifying Islam, instead honing in on the sinister nature of extremist ideologies.

The direction is bolstered by the film's excellent script which is eloquently written, sharply concise and engagingly carried forward, with commendable use of Moroccan Arabic dialect. The images brought to life by the cinematography are striking, presenting a vivid portrait of a world often unseen by many viewers, ensuring a wider understanding of an otherwise distant scenario of radicalism.

The music and sound design of Horses of God is also excellent, a blend of traditional Moroccan music, and intense, suspenseful tunes when necessary. This serves to elevate the overall tension and atmosphere in the film.

Sadly, a description of Horses of God would be incomplete without acknowledging the grim reality it mirrors. Though it is a fictional narrative, the audience cannot escape the fact it’s a dramatic recreation of the horrifying acts of terrorism that took place in Casablanca in 2003. Yet despite the dark subject matter, it's also a powerful exploration of human resilience, courage, and the will to survive.

Horses of God is a deeply haunting, highly instructive, and profoundly moving film that grips the viewers from the beginning and compels them to confront the chilling realities of radicalization and extremism. Importantly, it encourages us to question why some young people are lured onto this destructive path and how society might prevent such happenings in the future. It is both a captivating drama and a daring commentary, a must-watch film that seeks to delve into the complicated and sensitive issues with bravery and empathy.