Shouf Shouf Habibi! (2004)

Directed by: Albert ter Heerdt | 89 minutes | action, comedy | Actors: Mimoun Oaïssa, Najib Amhali, Zohra ‘Flifla’ Slimani, Salah Eddine Benmoussah, Illias Ojja, Mohammed Chaara, Frank Lammers, Mimoun Ouled Raadi, Touriya Haoud, Tanja Jess, Bridget Maasland, Tara Elders

‘Shouf Shouf Habibi!’ shows the everyday worries of Moroccan youth born in the Netherlands in a hilarious way. In addition to a lack of understanding for certain Dutch customs, such as turning back time and distrust of morality (especially of women), there is also room for self-mockery. This is especially evident in the scene with Ap at Social Services; he really thinks he can become an actor through them.

The beginning is ushered in by the story of Ap. This makes the viewer’s perspective immediately clear. We identify with Ap and his peers. The film was created on the initiative of Mimoun Oaïssa and through collaboration between this 28-year-old actor and director Albert ter Heerdt. The story is mainly set in the Netherlands, with some images of Morocco. Although these last images seem a bit surreal, they were actually shot in Morocco; near Marrakech, in a small village in the mountains. The title is a phrase that a Moroccan man shouted when he got hold of his film camera during the holiday of actor Mimoun Oaïssa.

With every change of the moon’s position, the story briefly switches to life in Morocco. This indicates the contrast between the two different cultures, but also between the generation of parents and their children, and the role of women in Morocco and that of Moroccan women in the Netherlands. So Sam’s wife tells him, but also the viewer; you should not think that a Moroccan woman always stays with her husband.

The conflicts lead to a development in the culture. Ali, Ap’s father, cannot keep up with his time and new environment and we see that Ap’s mother is not completely resigned to this. Because of her, Ap’s father even ends up in the hospital.

Meanwhile, Ap still considers it his duty to protect the honor of his sister Leila, the fashion designer, if he thinks she is having a sexual relationship with a rather free Dutch boy.

Bad language is used by rebellious, actually more mischievous adolescents. Appearance is important and violence is also present. But what we see here is not so much a feature of Moroccan culture as of our time.

Albert ter Heerdt knows how to bring humor in a moderate dose; he shows the comedy from its better side by not producing a flat thigh slap. “Shouf Shouf Habibi!” transcends the average sitcom, but not by any stretch. Talented play by a number of possibly promising actors, but not very developed characters. That makes the role of Bridget Maasland, for example, less convincing.

The film moves between action and comedy and is a bit too bland here and there, although it doesn’t quite reach the ‘Naked Gun’ level; the more moving moments also make up for it. This makes the film airy but not two-dimensional.