Expat Cinema: The Mother of All Lies

Nothing wrong with a little white lie, but in director Asmae El Moudir's childhood home, lies were not the exception but the norm. Her domineering grandmother controlled everything in the house she grew up in, located in a lively neighbourhood in Casablanca, Morocco. The past was never discussed and there were no photos on the walls.

In an attempt to recreate the unspoken history, El Moudir builds a model of the neighbourhood. Together with family and neighbours she finds an unorthodox way to recount a painful personal history, as well as a shared Casablanca history that remained hidden for a long time.

The bold and creative documentary The Mother of All Lies won two awards at the Cannes film festival and was the Moroccon Oscar contender in 2024.