Salvation Army

2013

1h 22m

Drama

LGBTQ+

List

77%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

In Casablanca,a gay teenager tries to build a life within his large family while dealing with his authoritarian mother and older brother.

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Zeba Blay

Shadow and Act

It's hard to pinpoint exactly where director Abdellah Taia's Salvation Army goes wrong, mostly because it had so much going for it to begin with.

Jan 23, 2017

Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg

New York Times

For a film rooted in a personal story, "Salvation Army" feels awfully remote.

Jan 22, 2015

Full Review

Inkoo Kang

Village Voice

Writer-turned-filmmaker Abdellah Taïa's lovely and elliptical adaptation of his autobiographical novel about growing up gay, effeminate, and powerless in Morocco.

Jan 21, 2015

Full Review

David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

In its moving treatment of oppression, loneliness and exile ... the film deserves special mention.

Feb 14, 2021

Full Review

David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

...benevolent but still painful...

Jun 23, 2020

Full Review

Steve Erickson

Gay City News

[Director Abdellah] Taïa, whose book fleshes out his story more completely, has adapted it into a subtle film with less explication but no less power.

Mar 9, 2018

Full Review

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Audience Member

I am moroccan myself and this movie was so spot-on in depicting certains traditions and cultural aspects that I was brought up with, it made me laugh. Some dialogues, however, are so cringeworthy. It was just bad. So was the ending.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not bad but I am going to have to read the actual book.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

No wonder famous authors and vagabonds such as Tony Duvert, William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg were drawn to Northern Africa. Said Mrini practically melts the screen as a young gay Moroccan eager for sex and a path out of the rigid Muslim society by emigrating to Switzerland. Author Director Abdellah Taia creates a powerful movie based on his autobiography.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Unfortunately, one might need a better understanding of Moroccan culture and lifestyles to better understand this film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

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Abdellah Taia

Director

Amine Naji

Slimane

Said Mrini

Abdellah jeune

Karim Ait M'hand

Abdellah adulte

Frederic Landenberg

Jean

Malika El Hamaoui

La mère

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Synopsis

In Casablanca,a gay teenager tries to build a life within his large family while dealing with his authoritarian mother and older brother.

Director: Abdellah Taia
Producer: Hugues Charbonneau, Marie-Ange Luciani, Philippe Martin
Screenwriter: Abdellah Taia
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: Canadian French
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 30, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.4K
Runtime: 1h 22m

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