Pirates of Salé

Dare to dream: art and taboo in Morocco’s first circus.

On Morocco’s old pirate coast, in the city of Salé, a new generation of pirates are setting sail, in Morocco’s first contemporary circus school. Cirque Shems’y sits on the edge of the city’s slums, and hundreds of teenagers come to audition here each year,looking for a different future. Pirates of Salé follows a tough journey of transformation as four young Moroccans learn to live independently, express themselves, challenge convention, and embrace a totally alien concept: artistic freedom.

Hajar is a talented aerialist who lived on the streets until she joined the circus; Imed is a dazzling performer who sees circus as a way to challenge corruption in Morocco; Ghizlane is fighting for a life of creative freedom rather than an arranged marriage; and Abd’Ali has to succeed to support his nine brothers and sisters. Pirates of Salé follows the young performers from audition to the city wide show, Pirates, when the eyes of the nation will be on them. They fuse circus skills with contemporary dance and theatre to create spectacular and provocative performances drawn from their own experiences on the city streets, and inspired by the city’s pirate history.

As Cirque Shems’y works to create a truly Moroccan circus experience, can these young Moroccans make art which provokes debate and creates change? How will they reconcile the demands of family, community and culture with their own artistic journeys? For Hajar, Imed, Abdelali and Ghizlane, can the circus deliver a better future? This is a film about being young in a place with few opportunities and daring to dream.

Directors: Rosa Rogers and Merieme Addou

Producer: Hilary Durman

Editor: Jane Harris

Composer: Andy Cowton

Additional Music: Amaro Del

Edinburgh International Film Festival, One World Human Rights Festival, Curzon, Olhares do Meditteraneo (Winner, Audience Award), MedFilm Festival (Best Documentary, Youth Jury) ,Festival International Cinéma Méditerranéan Tetouan, (Best Newcomer Award)

"This inspiring documentary balances human interest with exciting, handsomely lensed circus acts" Variety Magazine

"Finely made... An upbeat doc with poetry", Hollywood Reporter

For more details about the film visit www.piratesofsale.com