In1964 this film was selected to represent Morocco at the Venice Film Festival (short film section), and won the 1st prize at the Short Film Festival of Cracow.

BERBER WOMEN IN THE HIGH ATLAS

By André Goldenberg and Marie-Rose Rabaté

Length: 2 x 11’. 1965. French and English Versions. Shot in16 mm, colour. With soundtrack. Digitized to DVD (Beta on request).

The film describes the chores and joys of the women in a Berber village among the Aït Hadiddou tribe of the central High Atlas, near Imilchil.They are the ones who fetch the water in their heavy terra-cotta jars, who turn the stone arm-mill to obtain flour, and who take care of all the tasks involving the use of wool, including the confection of the family's garments. On certain evenings, it's time to celebrate and the women put on their make up for the ahidous (a collective dance from the mountain).

The translation of a few mill-chants and weaving-chants appears in the sub-titles.

THE JEWS OF THE EÏD

by Marie-Rose Rabaté and André Goldenberg

Length: 20'. 1967. French version. Music from the Atlas. Shot in16 mm. Colour. With soundtrack. Digitized to DVD (Beta on request).

At Ouirgane (High Atlas, south of Marrakech) a Berber village masquerade takes place during the week following Eid al-Adha (the great Muslim Festival during which each family sacrifices a lamb or a goat).

Masks and somewhat crude costumes surround a central character clad in goat-skins. They are meant to represent the Jews who were many to live in the villages of the region until the early 60s. Imitating the accents and the ways of the Jews, allows the people to go beyond the normal codes of good conduct required in normal times by Berber etiquette.

The troop of masks roams the village all day long, entering each house; they are expected everywhere for they incarnate the ancestors of their tribe and bring good health, fertility and prosperity with them.

In the evening, on the village square, they give funny and slightly saucy performances that parody peasant customs.

THE FALCONERS OF DOUKKALA

By André Goldenberg

Length: 14'. 1968. French Version. Shot in 16 mm. Colour. With soundtrack. Digitized to DVD (Beta on request).

Throughout centuries, and in spite of the vicissitudes of History a tribe in the region of Doukkala, south of El Jadida, has perpetrated the traditions of the capturing and training of hawks for hunting.

These traditions are presented in the film which benefits from the lively comments of the venerable Moqqadem, head falconer.

The French text is based on the translation of his interviews.

GAMES FOR THE ACHOURA IN THE DRAA VALLEY

by Marie-Rose Rabaté and André Goldenberg

Length: 24'. 1969. French version. Shot in16 mm. Colour. With soundtrack. Digitized to DVD (Beta on request) This film shows the festive traditions of the inhabitants the Draa valley, during the period of Achoura, at the beginning of the Muslim year. Children jump over bonfires; they make torches with palm leaves for the nightly rejoicing, and play water games. They go begging in a procession through the village, led by a coarsely clad character who represents an ogre. The adults too have their rituals... These ritual activities are supposed to bring luck to the households and abundance in the harvest of the oasis.

THE FIBULA

By André Goldenberg and Marie-Rose Rabaté

Length: 25'. 1970. French Version. Shot in 16 mm. Colour. With soundtrack. Digitized to DVD (Beta on request)

In a village near Tiznit, with unbelievably rustic manufacturing processes, a Berber craftsman jeweller creates in his tiny workshop, a smooth silver fibula, cut and engraved, that is adorned with separate enamels and glass jewelry.

This model of fibula goes back to immemorial times and is still part of the feminine way of dressing today, from Tiznit to Tafraout.

The text is based on the translation of the interviews with the craftsman jeweller; the background music belongs to the traditional repertoire of the region

THE AUTHORS

ANDRÉ GOLDENBERG

Doctorate in social and cultural Anthropology.

Ethnologist, writer, photographer, film-maker.

MARIE-ROSE RABATÉ

Doctorate in Ethnology

Ethnologist, writer, photographer.