Filmmaker Asmae ElMoudir began to question her family history when she noticed a bizarre lack of evidence to her harsh, strict grandmother’s claims. With the help of her father, she built an incredibly detailed model of her former Moroccan neighborhood, complete with handmade figurines. With the assistance of family members, friends, and neighbors, ElMoudir searches for and rebuilds her true history, facing the most painful discoveries along the journey.
The documentary embodies a therapeutic style of film making that’s inventive and original. You can feel the healing that’s taking place as the traumatic truths come to light. This is one of the most fascinating films I have seen in a long while.
The documentary features beautiful decorative miniatures, and the detail is nothing short of incredible. ElMoudir tells her story with methods that unfold like a stage play, starting with her childhood that was spent growing up in a home that was so strict, even photographs were not allowed because taking them was viewed as a sin. She goes deeper into her family history, culminating in a shocking and effective piece where a family member acts out (through his personal figurine) the unspeakable horrors that happened to him. There is a lot of trauma here, and what a cathartic method with which it finally comes to life.
“The Mother of All Lies” offers an interesting glimpse into a culture and life, and is a deeply intimate exercise in dealing with the pain of silence.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 