Overview

Based on extended field research and meetings with members of Morocco’s film world, this book traces the development of Moroccan cinema over the past three decades. Drawing from his extensive work on Moroccan cinema, Kevin Dwyer discusses important aspects of Moroccan film culture such as freedom of expression, the role of women, cultural diversity, the promotion of culture, the role of humor, the shifting emphasis on the urban, autobiographical aspects of films, and the development of documentary films. Dwyer closely analyzes a significant number of Moroccan films, providing crucial details about filmmakers; historical context; and comparisons with the cinemas of Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt.

Full Product Details

Author:   Kevin Dwyer
Publisher:   Springer International Publishing AG
Imprint:   Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN:  

9783031821844

ISBN 10:   303182184
Pages:   400
Publication Date:   14 March 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction: an anthropologist explores Moroccan cinema.- Part I: Moroccan Cinema into the 21st Century.- Chapter 2: Moroccan Cinema in its Regional Context(2000).- Chapter 3: Moroccan Cinema: probing a paradox(2000-2006).- Part II: Conversations with Filmmakers.- Introduction to Part II: Setting the conversations in context.- Chapter 4: Abdelkader Lagtaa: challenging accepted views(1999-2002).- Chapter 5: The “neo-real,” the social, and the symbolic in the films of M. A. Tazi(1998-2000).- Chapter 6: One decade, two comedies, two filmmakers(M.A.Tazi, Hakim Noury)( 2004-2007).- Part III: Themes and Issues in this century’s first decade.- Chapter 7: Moroccan cinema, the cultural exception, and cultural diversity(2006-7).- Chapter 8: Life history in anthropology and Moroccan cinema(2005-2010).- Chapter 9: Freedom of Expression in Moroccan Cinema and the Press(2009).- Part IV: The State of Play Two Decades In.- Chapter 10: Family Resemblance: An Anthropologist Looks at Moroccan Documentary(2020).- Chapter 11: Taking Stock of the Paradox(2008-2021).- Chapter 12: Conclusion: whither the Moroccan filmmaker’s odyssey?(2024).- Appendix: Research in Morocco over five decades.

Reviews

“The Perils and Promise of Moroccan Cinema provides an interdisciplinary reading of Moroccan cinema as both art and social practice. The book’s strength lies in integrating historical, political, and anthropological perspectives without losing focus on cinema as an art form. It also expands the methodological possibilities for studying cinema by showing how anthropological tools can enter into dialogue with film and media studies.” (Idriss Benkacem and Youssef Boutahar, Global South Literary Studies, March 16, 2026)

Author Information

Kevin Dwyer is an anthropologist and the author of Moroccan Dialogues: Anthropology in Question (1982), Arab Voices: The Human Rights Debate in the Middle East (1991), and Beyond Casablanca: M.A. Tazi and the Adventure of Moroccan Cinema (2004), as well as articles on anthropological theory; human rights; and Moroccan cinema, society, and culture.

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