'Wechma' (traces) by Hamid Benani

‘Wechma’-‘Trace’ by Hamid Benani is the first film to be shot in Meknes, Morocco, or as I have found in an article that the movie traces the history of Moroccan cinema. The story is about an orphan child ‘Massoud’ who is adopted by a well-to-family from the village. The story doesn’t end here though Massoud is lucky to find a home which will leave a trace in his life.

The movie is worth watching despite its poor quality because it was shot at a low personal budget and collaboration of the directors who founded ‘Segma 3’ at a time when there was no Moroccan cinema Centre.

‘Wechma’ is a movie that sheds light on several issue through its main character, Massoud. Tradition and religion are dominant themes that determine Massoud’s life. With an authoritative father, Massoud is put between either an accomplished task or punishment that drives him to find his own world and his own identity elsewhere. In the quest for his identity, the unlucky orphan is stuck between harsh reality and absent compassion which doomed his fate.

The movie was released in 1970. It didn’t succeed in cinema theatre due to some reasons, such as distribution and foreign movies domination.