Kasbah (2000)

Reality is sometimes a mirage! After living in Morocco for five years due to work, Mario (Ernesto Alterio) is scheduled to return to his native Spain…at least that is what he thinks. Mario agrees to show his boss’s daughter Laura (Elena Ballesteros) around the city as one last favor, but when the attractive teenager disappears without a trace at the local Kasbah, he suddenly finds himself the prime suspect. In order to clear his name, the protagonist embarks on a dangerous and mysterious journey through this exotic land, coming across both suspense and romance. Fantasy mixes with reality throughout Mario’s adventure, leaving the viewer guessing until the very end. La realidad es a veces un espejismo! Luego de vivir cinco anos en Marruecos por razones de trabajo, Mario (Ernesto Alterio) se prepara para regresar a España, su país de origen… al menos eso es lo que él piensa. Mario acepta darle un paseo por la ciudad a la hija de su jefe, como una última atención para con éste, pero cuando la atractiva adolescente desaparece en un local llamado Kasbah, Mario se convierte sorpresivamente en el primer sospechoso. Decidido a limpiar su nombre, el protagonista se embarca en una peligrosa aventura, llena de suspenso y romance, manteniendo al espectador desconcertado hasta el último minuto.

"Some People Have Invisible Ties"

Note: Spanish with Engish subtitles.

'Kasbah' is a gem of a movie that takes the viewer on a perilous road trip as Mario (Ernesto Alterio), a Spanish businessman living in Morrocco searches for his visiting half-sister who has persumably been kidnapped while shopping in the Kasbah. As he drives across the desert from village to village he encounters an array of residents willing to both help and hinder him in his attempted rescue effort. Along the way he is joined by the lovely Alix (Natalia Verbeke), fellow Spaniard and tourist who aids him in his quest.

This film will catch your interest from the very beginning and maintain that focus and interest until the closing credits. The plot is exciting, the acting excellent, the landscape and settings hypnotic and the Morroccan, African soundtrack exquisite. This is a film that will stand up well to repeat viewings, the ultimate compliment for any film.

My Rating: -5 Stars-. September 22, 2007

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