Martin I. Petrov

Viggo Mortensen, to whom the 14th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival pays a tribute, presented his new film Loin des hommes (Far from men) in the presence of the director David Oelhoffen, co-star Reda Kateb and the producers, yesterday evening at the crowded Jemaa El Fna square in the old town of Marrakech. When called on stage, Mortensen greeted the audience with well rehearsed Arabic and continued in French inviting them to the following free screening of the film on the specially installed screen on the square. 

Later in the evening, at the official ceremony held at the Palais des Congres, Viggo Mortensen received his honorary award from the hands of fellow actress and member of this year’s Jury Mélanie Laurent, who spoke of him with great fondness, underlining his great contribution to the world of art, as Mortensen is also a director, producer, poet and writer aside to his acting career. 

Keeping his speech short he thanked the MIFF for the honour and highlighted that after shooting with his Moroccan co-star and in many locations around the country, “being here again feels like returning home”. 

Loin des hommes (Far from men) tells the story of a French-Algerian teacher who holds one of the few operating schools in rural Algeria during the war in 1954. When he is tasked with transferring a prisoner for his sentence to the closest city, he faces the cruelty of the conflict for the first time and is forced to make a lifetime decision while struggling for survival. 

The film premiered in August during the Venice International Film Festival.