The Big Picture Slow cinema certainly isn’t for everyone. And sometimes it can be difficult to separate slow-burn movies from ones that simply have a plot way too thin. Abdellah Taïa’s Cabo Negro, a co-production between France and Morocco, spends its first half testing the audience’s patience. It doesn’t offer any plot exposition or backstory, and you wouldn’t be blamed for getting a little frustrated.
Director Abdellah Taïa Cast Oumaïma Barid , Youness Beyej , Julian Compan , Manal Fatah , Mohamed Amine Kihal Runtime 76 Minutes What Is 'Cabo Negro' About? Two friends in their late teens or early 20s, Jaafar and Soundouss arrive at a pristine villa in the exclusive resort town of Cabo Negro in Morocco. They are to be hosted by the wealthy American, Jonathan, who they say they are working for as research assistants when in reality, he is Jaafar’s seasonal lover.
Related 'Chlorophyll' Review: Poison Ivy Wishes She Could Get a Movie Like This I KVIFF 2024 'Midsommar' with magical realism and no bear sacrifices. 'Cabo Negro's Second Half Is Full of Heart The best scene in the film and the one that sums up its thesis is when Soundouss makes a massive bowl of a couscous and meat dish and brings it outside to Jafaar, his new boyfriend Mounir, and other transient folk as they all eat from it together, some with spoons, some with hands. No one is saying a word but from the way Taïa captures the moment, it’s obvious that this has been the most community they’ve experienced in ages.