Strawberries

In this Cannes Un Certain Regard–premiering political drama, two Moroccan women doing seasonal work in Spain struggle against dire labour conditions.

Hoping to make ends meet, tetchy Hasna and timid Meriem set sail for the Spanish province of Huelva, where they will earn 35 euros per day as strawberry pickers. The work is onerous, and their difficult circumstances – the language barrier, the oppressive conditions, the distance from loved ones in Morocco – are ameliorated only by their camaraderie with their female colleagues. When acts of extortion and sexual assault throw a wrench into those relationships, however, Hasna and Meriem must decide whether to protect their livelihoods or their dignity.

Co-written by Delphine Agut (The Story of Souleymane, MIFF 2024; Inshallah a Boy, MIFF 2023) and based on real-world cases, Laïla Marrakchi’s bracing third feature depicts the insidious systems that enable migrant and gender-based exploitation across the Mediterranean. Timely and eye-opening, Strawberries sheds light not just on the toxic feedback loop between desperation and oppression, but also on the oblivious privilege of the First World societies that rely on this workforce. Nisrin Erradi (Adam, MIFF 2019) is formidable as Hasna: a compelling yet flawed heroine whose combative spirit jars with her instinct to prioritise self-preservation.

Content: Melbourne International Film Festival