For three days each September men and women gather in front of the Imilchil shrine, choose mates and marry in a nearby tent. The uniqueness of the tradition has become so popular that even the Moroccan government itself promotes the ritual as a tourist attraction. Beautifully capturing the essence of the Bride Market, this video questions the presence of Western observers, including the filmmakers themselves. It also challenges our views on relationships and moral structures between Arabs and Westerners.

"When we made "The Bride Market of Imilchil", we spent time in the remote mountain village of Imilchil interviewing men and women, husbands and wives, about their tribal traditions, and we became completely captivated by the people, the place, the landscape... If there is any one primary character in this nonfiction piece, it's the market, the event itself; and then around that there are these interviews clustered that give you details about what's happening in the marketplace." -Steffen Pierce, director

The directors interviewed dozens of Moroccans who were later arrested and questioned by the police.


Type:
Documentary

Director:
Steffen and Christian Pierce

Year:
1988

Time:
58 minutes

Language:
Arabic with English Subtitles