Where is Love in the Palm Grove?

A film by Jerome Le Maire produced by IOTA Production

Mamoun, a quirky thirty-five year old Muslim man living in Skoura, Morocco, has never been married. His sister considers the situation scandalous, because if he does not marry, it means he is not following the commandments of their religion. Mansour seems satisfied with his life, living near his family, on good terms with his neighbors, tending his animals and dealing with the droughts common to this very dry region. When asked why he has not married, he gives evasive answers. Mamoun could apply to the Nikah, an important Muslim matrimonial service. Or he could attend the Lema, the annual meeting of young people set up to give men and women an opportunity to find a mate, one of the few times Muslims are permitted to meet and talk with the opposite sex.

The French filmmaker (temporarily living in Skoura) tries to arrange a marriage for Mamoun with the pretty young daughter of a neighbor. She likes Mamoun and would marry him but he wants someone even prettier. He does attend the Lema but no one appeals to him. Considering the separation of the sexes in Muslim society, the obsession with virginity, and the custom of arranged marriages, how can love blossom? Or maybe love is only a Western concept? As his brother, Abdelali, says, "The only priority for people here is working hard and earning their bread. When your hands are raw because of a pickax, love is irrelevant."

52 min. Video or DVD. Sale $295. Video rental $85.