Chasing dreams and wanting more, a better life is an age-old tale. Films such as these can feel predictable as soon as the tone is set. As an audience, we become hopeful along with the dreamer of the story and even though we can guess how things will end, we still cling to the hope that this character somehow succeeds. In Everyone Loves Touda, we enter the world of hopeful dreamer Touda and share in her journey, but we know all too well how this story ends.
Touda is a Sheikha, a traditional Moroccan performer empowered by the songs of fierce female poets who lived before her. Trying to carve out an existence in her rural town, performing each night in darkened bars to drunken men, Touda wants more from life. Deciding to take a chance, she moves to Casablanca, the big city, in the hope of being recognised as a true artist and securing a place for her son at a school that accommodates deaf children.
Any film that states in the title that ‘everyone loves' them, is already set up for heartache. Touda is both a tragic heroine and an ambitious talented dreamer. She comes across as both naïve and street-wise. Touda understands what her gifts are and how to use them, even if means putting herself in danger. Her playful charm and determination are what drive both her singing and the opportunities she makes for herself. While so desperately wanting the best for her son, she can't help but want a better future for herself as well and tries so hard to achieve both. Being an artist, she can't help but fall into one extreme from the next, showing fits of rage and deep sadness, not only when she is performing. Deep down, she knows her son must come first and dreams second but what we see in the film is her desperation to seek both.
Though there are emotionally heightened scenes, whether they are rebellious or heart-breaking, Everyone Loves Touda feels disjointed. Despite the film following a narrative, it comes across as vignettes in Touda's life and the scenes just don't flow. The opening sequence starts with a rather joyful moment that quickly descends into the most harrowing scenes of the entire film. This sets the film up to be something entirely different to what actually happens. There is also no mention of these traumatic moments at any other time in the film, which may be on purpose but again, feels disordered. The abrupt ending too feels out of place, with many questions still left unanswered that should have been addressed. A prologue or final scene would have been welcome, if only to find out what Touda's final decision was.
Overall, Everyone Loves Touda is a story we all know so well, but story issues aside, the real joy here is the music. Nisrin Erradi as Touda is exquisite. Her voice is truly captivating and she shines on screen throughout, she really is the driving force throughout the film.