Watch Horses of God

Set in the sprawling slums of Casablanca, Morocco, Horses of God (Les Chevaux de Dieu in French) is a poignant and harrowing tale of young men led astray by extremist ideologies. Directed by Nabil Ayouch, the film was released in 2012 and is based on the 2003 Casablanca bombings that claimed the lives of 45 people and injured over a hundred more.

The story revolves around the lives of four childhood friends, Yachine, Hamid, Fouad, and Tarek, who dream of escaping the squalor of their impoverished neighborhood and living a better life. However, their mundane existence is shattered when they encounter a charismatic and fanatical Salafist cleric who preaches an extremist version of Islam.

Initially, the boys are skeptical of the cleric's message, but they are gradually drawn in by his forceful charisma and promises of glory and redemption in the afterlife. As they become more deeply involved in the Salafi movement, they become increasingly isolated from their families and community, and begin to see violence as the only means of achieving their goals.

Yachine, the protagonist, is the most conflicted of the group. He is torn between his loyalty to his friends and his growing doubts about the validity of their beliefs. His mother, played by Abdelhakim Rachid, is a constant source of strength and guidance, but even she is powerless to prevent her son from being drawn into the Salafi underworld.

The film builds slowly, establishing the boys' hopes and dreams before gradually revealing the path that leads them towards the bombings. There are moments of joy and humor as the boys play football, plan their escape, and confront the realities of life in the slums. But as the story progresses, the tone becomes darker and more ominous, as the boys' indoctrination intensifies and the violence escalates.

Despite the gravity of the subject matter, Horses of God is a beautifully crafted film that captures the complexities of a difficult and controversial issue. The performances by the young actors are exceptional, particularly Abdelilah Rachid as the charismatic but troubled Hamid. The cinematography is also stunning, creating a vivid and immersive portrait of life in the slums.

One of the most striking aspects of the film is the way in which it challenges stereotypes about extremism and terrorism. The boys are not portrayed as evil or malicious, but rather as vulnerable and impressionable young people who are seduced by the promise of a better life. This nuanced approach makes their descent into violence all the more tragic, highlighting the destructive power of extremist ideologies.

The film also explores the social and economic conditions that contribute to extremism, portraying the slums of Casablanca as a breeding ground for disillusionment and despair. Through the boys' eyes, we see the poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunities that make them feel trapped and powerless. This is not to excuse their actions, but rather to illustrate the complex web of factors that can drive young people towards extremism.

In conclusion, Horses of God is a powerful and thought-provoking film that sheds light on an important and timely issue. It is a testament to the power of cinema to challenge our assumptions and deepen our understanding of complex social problems. Though it is not an easy film to watch, it is a necessary one that demands our attention and our empathy.

Horses of God is a 2012 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 58 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 76.