Animalia

In this wide-ranging debut, mysterious green apparitions above a remote Moroccan lake bring chaos to the world around pregnant Itto. Married into a wealthy family, she feels like an interloper in her in-laws’ grand house but she is alone when the strange celestial event occurs. As army trucks rush in, Itto–determined to save her unborn child—embarks on a dangerous journey to reunite with her husband. Animalia encompasses multiple genres, including road-trip and sci-fi movies, while also diving deeply into themes of faith and class, hitting all its notes with perfect pitch. As Itto, Oumaïma Barid expertly reveals the character’s resolve to digest the enigmas she encounters without letting them deter her from her path.