CineMingle: Where Are You Going Moshe? June 26, 2008

Set in the dusty hamlet of Bejjad, Morroco, Hassan Benjellouns ensemble piece introduces us to the regulars of the towns only bar, Chez Mustapha. Mustapha has a problem, you see. Faced with Islamic law that prohibits the drinking of alcohol by Muslims and the imminent departure of Bejjads Jewish residents (who are leaving in the wake of Morrocos independence from France), hell soon be out of business. So Mustapha hatches a plan to keep one Jew in town to operate his watering hole. Alternately funny and sad, Where Are You Going, Mosh? zeroes in on the bane of bureaucracy in all forms. Benjelloun has crafted a rare gema historical-political piece that, not unlike the films of Frank Capra, is surprisingly and shamelessly amusing. Program note adopted from Joe Baltake, Philadelphia Film Festival

Co-Presented by the Jewish Music Festival and JIMENA (Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa)

Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of JCCEB.