Pyramide Boards Morocco-Set Romance Thriller ‘Behind the Palm Timber’ From Cannes Prizewinner Forward of Marrakech’s Atlas Workshops

Pyramide Movies has boarded Meryem Benm’Barek’s “Behind the Palm Timber,” a Morocco-set romance thriller which will probably be pitched on the Atlas Workshops, the business sidebar working place alongside the Marrakech Movie Competition.

The movie marks the sophomore outing of Benm’Barek, an promising helmer who made her characteristic debut with “Sofia” which received finest screenplay at Cannes within the Un Sure Regard part.

Benm’Barek, who grew up between Morocco, France and Belgium, beforehand directed a number of quick movies, together with “Jennah.”

Pyramide will deal with each worldwide gross sales and French distribution rights on “Behind the Palm Timber.” The film is produced by Jean Brehat (“The Insult”) at Les Movies du Veyrier and Emma Binet at Furyo in France, Souad Lamriki at Agora Movies in Morocco and Olivier Dubois at Novak Prod in Belgium.

“Behind the Palm Timber” follows Mehdi, who leads an exemplary life in Marrakech along with his household and Selma, his new girlfriend. For the younger couple, issues are going easily till Mehdi meets Marie, a younger French girl caught up within the social lifetime of the expatriate neighborhood.

“What I wish to do with this movie, is to introduce the viewers in a romance, that steadily leads us into an intimate thriller, that painting a youth which is disoriented by the violence of their political and social context,” mentioned the director.

Benm’Barek mentioned she spoke to many younger males who advised her how their romantic affairs have been impacted by nonetheless resilient colonial attitudes inherited from France’s colonial historical past with the North African nation. “It inevitably performed an element via the connection of domination that continues to exist between Morocco and France,” continued the helmer.

The producers mentioned they are going to look to place the movie throughout the competition circuit and are contemplating a robust French and Moroccan forged. “‘Behind the Palm Timber’ is producing lots of buzz (as a result of) it’s a robust story that may cross the borders,” the producers continued. Budgeted at $2.5 million, the movie is anticipated to begin taking pictures on location in February.