ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Meryem Benm'Barek's New Film Examines Class Relations in Contemporary Morocco

opinion-review · 2026-03-28

Meryem Benm'Barek, director of the Cannes award-winning film 'Sofia', has released a new French-Moroccan production titled 'Derrière les palmiers'. The film continues her exploration of social class dynamics in modern Moroccan society. Benm'Barek's previous work received recognition at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018. Her latest project maintains an intimate yet unsettling approach to examining contemporary issues.

Key facts

  • Meryem Benm'Barek directed the new film 'Derrière les palmiers'
  • The film is a French-Moroccan co-production
  • Benm'Barek previously directed 'Sofia' which won awards at Cannes in 2018
  • The film examines class relations in contemporary Morocco
  • The director continues her exploration of social dynamics in Moroccan society

Entities

Artists

  • Meryem Benm'Barek

Institutions

  • Cannes Film Festival

Locations

  • Morocco
  • France

Sources